Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao stressed the importance of efficient
supervision over food safety when addressing a conference of the State Council
yesterday.
The premier said the issue of product quality and food safety is closely
linked with people's lives, producers' reputation and the nation's image.
Concerned departments at all levels must attach great importance to the issue.
The nation must establish a rigorous network to realize effective supervision
over processing, packaging, delivering and sale of products and step up the
establishment of national standard systems to tally with international
standards, Wen said.
He also said the nation would continue to publicize periodic reports on
product information and recall defective products in time. Meanwhile, China
would strengthen cooperation with foreign countries in handling the issue and
improve law enforcement on product quality problems, he said.
The State Council has decided to form a leading group for product quality and
food safety to help resolve disputes, according to the conference.
At the same time, the conference approved a draft special regulation on the
supervision over food safety which dictated intensified controls over food
producers and distributors, increased responsibilities and obligations on the
part of the government and more serious punishment on illegal activities.
The draft would be amended and later formally published by the State Council,
according to the conference.