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)