Monday, January 12, 2009

China issues food safety alert ahead of Spring Festival

BEIJING, Jan. 12 (Chinese media) -- China's Ministry of

Health said Monday morning that the government would strengthen law enforcement

on illegal substance and addictive abuse in food as the Chinese lunar new year,

the country's biggest festivity, draws near.

Mao Qun'an, the ministry spokesman, said that an

interagency mechanism had been set up to enforce laws and regulations on food

safety, particularly in the two weeks preceding the Chinese lunar new year (Jan.

26, 2009), in seven provinces, including Hebei, where the melamine-tainted milk

formula scandal occurred.

The spokesman said the inspection would primarily

focus on supermarkets and food-additive processing factories and restaurants. He

said violators would be severely punished.

Mao also promised the ministry would publicize major

violations as soon as possible.

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