The designation means that the laboratory is now approved by Henan's Science and Technology Department as a key laboratory for meat production processing and quality assurance. The laboratory was created in collaboration with Henan Agricultural University.

The designs and processes used in this key laboratory are based on the world's leading research, development, process engineering, quality assurance, and information technology for food processing. The laboratory is equipped with the latest scientific instruments and integrated systems from North America and Asia and uses the most stringent testing and measurement processes.

In addition to its focus on scientific testing to validate product quality assurance and production processes, Zhongpin says that the laboratory also has the mission of studying three topics to advance the company's and the industry's scientific knowledge and food processing practices. These are: the factors and mechanisms that influence meat quality, emerging new processing engineering and quality assurance technologies that could further improve food safety and quality, and scientific factors that influence product competitiveness in the market.

The designation as the Key Laboratory is expected to result in a steady flow of outstanding scientists and engineers who seek to work with Zhongpin, to enhance the company's research and development capabilities, to accelerate the company's product and process improvements and new product innovations, and to serve as an exchange platform for technical cooperation with universities, technical institutes, and food processors in China and around the world.