Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao stressed the importance of efficient
supervision over food safety when addressing a conference of the
State Council on Wednesday.
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.
(Xinhua News Agency July 26 2007)
