Guangzhou-based medical scientist Zhong Nanshan, a nationally-renowned hero in China's fight against the SARS epidemic in 2003, is absent from the ongoing annual full session of the top advisory body that opened Thursday citing poor health.

But the scientist called for intensified measures to ensure the safety of food and drug in a proposal submitted via email, the Guangzhou-based Nanfang Daily reported.

Zhong, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said that food and drug safety is crucial in preventing various diseases. "Abuse of hormone and antibiotics in the animal husbandry sector, for example, can lead to prematurity and intestinal, cervical and ovarian cancers in women," he said in the proposal.

He urged food and drug administrations to improve efficiency and coordination among themselves so as to avoid blind spots. The State Food and Drug Administration established last year, however, is more a coordinator and lacks enforcement power, according to Zhong.

"Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a powerful and highly-efficient enforcer in most developed European and American countries," acknowledged Zhong. "We may consider adopting their practices to improve our own food and drug safety and gradually establish a sound market accession system."

(Xinhua News Agency March 4, 2005)