Abstract: As the core hub of agricultural product distribution in China, agricultural wholesale markets handle about 70% of the country’s agricultural products. Food safety governance is directly related to the “safety on the tip of the tongue” of residents and public health stability. This systematic review examines recent research on food safety governance in Chinese agricultural wholesale markets and identifies current challenges including the disconnect between production exit standards and market entry requirements, frequent disruptions in cold-chain logistics, and the diminishing marginal effects of traditional administrative oversight. Applying the principles of hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP), this study translates conventional industrial control parameters into indicators of distribution conduct and physical conditions, identifying four critical control points: entry inspection, rapid testing, cold-chain storage, and traceability disclosure. It develops a collaborative governance framework involving government regulation, market accountability, merchant self-discipline, and participation of the public and third parties. A game-theoretic model is used to examine how lawful credit constraints and risk information disclosure may affect merchant compliance. Drawing on the governance model of the Rungis market in Paris and that of the Haijixing market in Shenzhen, this study proposes an incentive-compatible matrix based on dynamic credit rating and a phased implementation strategy for classification and grading based on category-specific risks, market scale, and facility capacity to balance governance effectiveness, compliance costs, and feasibility, providing theoretical support and decision-making references for achieving systematic good governance of food safety in agricultural wholesale markets.

Key words: agricultural products wholesale market; food safety regulation; hazard analysis and critical control points; collaborative governance; game-theoretic model