Chinese gov't pledges better quality supervision over farm products

Special Report:Global Financial Crisis

BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Chinese media) -- China pledged on Sunday to step up efforts for stricter quality supervision over farm products in the government's first document this year.

The country would prepare for the introduction of the long-awaited food safety law with new and modified regulations on farm product quality, according to the first document of the year jointly issued Sunday by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council.

The government would build a mechanism which coordinates efforts of different departments to seek more effective quality supervision systems, according to the document.

The nation would accelerate the pace for building testing systems for farm products, while improving quality standards and enhancing certification approval of testing organizations, said the document.

The government would initiate special campaigns to crack down on illegal use of pesticides and veterinary drugs, said the document without giving details.

The document also urged enterprises to be more responsible for product quality, and asked them to check every batch of products heading for sale.

This year is the sixth in a row in which the central government has dedicated its first document of the year to rural problems. Guidelines outlined in the document would be followed by more specific measures from government departments later in the year.