BEIJING — China announced yesterday that it is strengthening its food safety regulations in the aftermath of discoveries of toxic chemicals that prompted international bans and recalls on its exports.
The communist country, which has been trying hard to persuade the world it is serious about cracking down on dangerous and phony drugs and food, also announced that it had broken up criminal networks that made fake bird-flu medicine, malaria drugs, Viagra and toothpaste.
The government said on its Web site that the Cabinet had passed a draft regulation that “strictly regulates the activities of producers, strengthens the responsibility of local governments and increases the punishment for illegal activities.”
No details were given, but the government said Prime Minister Wen Jiabao attended the State Council meeting, an indication of high-level concern about the problem.
“Product quality and food safety concerns the health and the life of the people, it concerns the trustworthiness of companies and the image of the country,” the statement said. “We must attach great importance to the matter.”
The regulation goes into effect after publication by the State Council. The government did not say when that would occur.
The government said the fake-drug rings were broken up between August 2005 and May 2006 and involved gangs across the country, two of which sold their products via the Internet or by e-mail, according to the Ministry of Public Security.
The announcement, posted late Tuesday on the government’s Web site, did not say what happened to the suspects, if anyone was sickened as a result or why the information was released only now.
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