Out of 9,700 products from 8,142 enterprises examined by the bureau in 2000, 78.9 percent were up to standard, maintaining the same level of standards as last year.

Over 50 varieties of products including pressure cookers, fire extinguishers and agricultural transport vehicles reported better quality, with the qualification rate increased by over 10 percentage points, according to the bureau.

The quality of products from state-owned and foreign-invested enterprises was better than those made by private companies. The productive materials had better quality than consumable products.

Good quality products include household appliances, steel, iodized salt and napkins, according to the bureau.

However, the quality of fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides and seeds in agriculture were uneven. The qualification rate of light bulbs, ice-cream, milk powder and meat products were low. The quality of construction materials need further improvement, said the bureau.

The bureau will increase its supervision over enterprises of unqualified products. Those found producing "fake" products or selling inferior, shoddy goods will be punished according to law.

(21dnn 01/19/2001)