Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi has called on the government's food and medicine authorities Thursday to establish a series of mechanisms to ensure food and medicine safety.

The food safety mechanisms should include a comprehensive rating system, a standard and technology support, a credit mechanism and an information evaluation and early alert index mechanism, said Wu when meeting with representatives attending a national food and medicine regulatory work conference.

She required the authorities to continue their efforts to crackdown on the illegal production and the sale of fake products. This would bring the production and sale of food products back on the right track.

According to Wu, another mechanism should be put in place to prevent illegal activities related to medicine, medical equipment and health care foodstuffs.

"A medicine distribution network and a supervision network should also be constructed to help promote rural medicine work," she said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 21, 2005)