Food safety and the quality of agricultural products should be guaranteed from farmland to dining table, Vice-Premier Wang Yang stressed at a working conference in Weihai city, Shandong province, on Oct 20.

Since last year, food safety pilot areas were set up, and positive effects have been achieved. Wang said that exploration and practice in pilot areas should be expanded, major problems solved and a long-term mechanism established.

Wang emphasized that the current situation in China’s food safety is stable but there are still safety risks. He said that as the new food safety law took effect on Oct 1, local governments’ responsibilities are stressed, food manufacturers and businesses are more restricted and illegal acts in related fields will be severely punished. A system of oversight will also be improved.