China's capital to step up food safety vigilance

BEIJING, May 24 (Reuters) China will strengthen oversight of food products entering Beijing, local media reported on Thursday, as the country reels from a series of food safety scandals.

China's capital, which is to host the Olympics next year, will also increase rewards for uncovering unlawful production methods from 10,000 yuan (1,300 dollar) to 50,000 yuan, the Beijing News reported.

Beijing ''this year will set up a supervision system to analyse food additives, and intensify management of the approval system and record-keeping of food additive enterprises,'' the report said, citing a proposal initiated by Beijing city official Wang Weicheng.

Food products from China have come under scrutiny around the world after a spate of safety breaches involving toxins in products from pet food to toothpaste.

Beijing is also extremely sensitive to ensuring every aspect of security -- including food safety -- for the 2008 Olympic Games, when millions of athletes, tourists and journalists will descend on the city.

The strengthened oversight will focus on food additives, the report said.

Beijing will set up a system to trace back food and food products to their origins and will strictly monitor the use of fertiliser and pesticides.

''Goods from companies that don't meet production standards will be firmly kept out of the market,'' the report said.

Billions of dollars worth of counterfeit and substandard goods, from fake liquor and medicines to luxury handbags, are produced every year in China.

In one of the most highly publicised health scandals, China revealed in 2004 that at least 13 babies had died from malnutrition in the eastern province of Anhui after being fed fake baby milk.

REUTERS AE VV1015