Beijing is moving to crack down on the sale of dangerous food and medicine and also trying to calm fears that some of its exports pose health problems.

Responding to growing international concerns about tainted food and counterfeit drugs, China has disclosed that it is overhauling its food- and drug-safety regulations and will introduce nationwide inspections. With pressure growing from regulators in the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world, and international food companies expressing concern about the risks of importing Chinese-made food and feed ingredients, Beijing is pushing for a more forceful response to the crisis.

In its disclosure on Tuesday, which was posted on a government website, China said the State Council had approved a new food- and drug-safety guarantee system on April 17 and that an outline of the new program was being distributed to government agencies nationwide. The government said it planned by 2010 to place new controls on food and drug imports and exports, to step up random testing on medicines and have inspection information on 90% of all food products.

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