The country's quality control workflow will be greatly improved when it comes to supervising every step of production, transportation, and sales and quarantining imports and exports.

Li Changjiang, director of the State Administration of Quality Supervision and Quarantine, was quoted as saying Wednesday at a national meeting in Beijing.

In 2003, China will also strengthen safety management and registration examinations for food and farm produce exports.

Li said his administration will tighten the control over pesticide and veterinary drug residue, and put vets and plants protection technicians in businesses where they can help ensure quality.

From May, China began to issue certificates to enterprises that produced certain new products, altogether 132, which are closely related to the health and safety of consumers and animals, the environment and national security.

From May 1 next year, any of the products that do not have the China Compulsory Certification mark will not be allowed to be exported from or imported into China.

(People's Daily December 26, 2002)