China Pledges to Boost Food Safety

BEIJING–China’s central government is laying plans to curb pollution, increase food and drug safety, and boost scientific research—though supporting details are scarce, sciencemag.com reported.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang outlined these and other major goals during the opening session of the National People’s Congress on Sunday. The congress discussions are not likely to result in new legislation specific to science but speeches by top leaders set the tone for policy over the coming year.

Li also spoke to food and drug safety in light of a long-running struggle with tainted food and dangerous counterfeit drugs, many of which have caused health problems after being exported to other countries. In late February the State Council unveiled a plan to tighten food and drug safety controls, including lowering limits on antibiotics and pesticides in food products, over the next 5 years, an effort Li said requires “the utmost rigor.”