NPC to consider revising food safety law

China's top legislature will review a series of draft amendments, bills and reports later this month, including a draft revision of the food safety law.

This work will be done at a bimonthly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, which is scheduled from June 23 to 27, according to a decision made on Monday at a meeting presided over by top legislator Zhang Dejiang and attended by the NPC Standing Committee's vice chairpersons.

Monday's meeting did not reveal details on how the food safety law would be changed. The Chinese public has been crying out for strengthened management of food producers after a rash of food scandals in recent years.

Under the recommended agenda, the bimonthly session will include deliberation of a report on the central government's spending in 2013 and a second review of a draft amendment to improve security at military facilities.

A bill submitted by the Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuratorate on trials of fast-track arbitrations in certain parts of China will also be considered.

And lawmakers will review bills to approve two treaties between China and Bosnia and Herzegovina on criminal judicial assistance and on extradition, a treaty between China and Mongolia on transferring criminals and a cooperation treaty between China and Uzbekistan.

Reports on reinforcing supervision over financial sectors, the qualifications of some NPC deputies as well as a number of appointments and dismissals are also set to be examined at the meeting.