China approves draft food safety law
Beijing (PTI): Stung by food scandals, China on Wednesday approved a draft law on food safety to plug "weak points" in production, processing, delivery, storage and sales.
China's cabinet presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao discussed the draft law based on the existing Food Hygiene Law, and gave its approval in principle, the state media reported.
"Food safety is vital to improving people's lives and health, so relevant legislation must match national efforts of safeguarding food safety," Wen was quoted as saying.
The draft law stipulates that food products exported from China should meet the compulsory requirements set by importers and pass local entry inspection and quarantine.
The government would standardise practices such as food production licensing, inspection and quarantine results recording, product labelling and recalling, Wen said, according to official Xinhua news agency.
In a clear warning, Wen said producer would bear major responsibilities for food safety scandals and be punished more severely.
Worried over food scandals, the Chinese government had launched a "special battle" on food safety, which saw 667 tons of substandard and fake food products destroyed and 446 tons removed from markets by October 8.
In a crackdown last week, 626 criminal cases involving the production or sales of substandard food, drugs and farm produce were filed.
The draft law, which would be placed before the National People's Congress, the country's legislature, for adoption, also says that imported food and additives must meet China's national food safety standards.
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