Shenzhen officials have vowed to further strengthen food safety measures this year and set higher standards in that regard, yesterday's Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported.

In a white paper on food safety published Monday, the municipal food safety commission made public 14 food safety-related indices and outlined the responsibilities of 15 government agencies and the city's six districts.

According to the white paper, 95 percent of vegetables tested for pesticide residue in the city this year need to meet the municipal standard. The figure is 98 percent for pork tested for clenbuerol and aquatic products tested for harmful chemicals, the Daily report said. Last year, the figures were 91 percent, 97 percent and 95 percent for vegetables, pork and aquatic products respectively. Of the 14 indices "related to local residents' daily lives," the one dealing with the proportion of workers having access to clean and safe food has seen the biggest increase, up from 30 percent last year to 70 percent this year, the report said.

Achievements were made last year in ensuring food safety, and no major food poisoning incidents were recorded in Shenzhen, a meeting was told Monday.

Last year, the food authorities focused on purified water, bean products, pork products and the illegal use of recycled hogwash oil. Inspections this year will focus on pork products, bean products, aquatic products, and cured and pot-stewed meat. Vice Mayor Zhuo Qinrui, who was present at Monday's meeting, said three to four slaughterhouses will be built this year to provide safe meat to local residents. He urged relevant departments to start the construction of two modern bean products factories as soon as possible.

The vice mayor also demanded that the municipal health bureau and the municipal administration for industry and commerce table a research report before June on how to regulate small and medium-sized eateries and ensure food safety when local residents dine out.

Editor: Yan