BEIJING - Chinese Vice-Premier Li Keqiang has demanded the comprehensive enforcement of the country's food safety laws, urging checks to be tightened against unsafe food products.

China should enhance efforts to ensure food safety, which is crucial for protecting human lives and improving people's living standards, said Li when addressing a meeting on food safety on Feb 18.

Also, emphasis should be directed to both special campaigns, which are launched to check against unsafe food, as well as daily supervision of food manufacturers, he said.

The meeting also heard reports on food safety delivered by officials from health and agriculture ministries, such as the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

Participants at the meeting agreed that China should improve its system to monitor and assess food safety risks and to enhance emergency response capabilities in this regard.

Related readings:  Govt watchdog vows tougher food safety control  Artificial meat may answer food crisis  Preventing another food crisis

They also called for improvement of food safety-related laws and regulations, as well as measures to target those core factors that affect the safety of food products.

At the meeting, local government departments were asked to closely cooperate and to improve the system in order to ensure food safety.

The participants agreed that authorities should publicize accurate food safety information timely, and do more to forge a social atmosphere favorable for ensuring food safety.