The draft Law on Food Safety will have its fourth reading by lawmakers next week after being removed from the agenda of China's top legislature in December.

Members of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee will discuss the draft law at an upcoming bi-monthly session scheduled from February 25 to 28, according to a statement issued after a meeting of the chairman and vice-chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee on Tuesday, presided over by chairman Wu Bangguo.

Changes in the draft will not be released to the media until that meeting.

The draft Law on Food Safety has been revised several times. The most recent changes were made following the tainted dairy scandal, in which six babies were killed and 290,000 others sickened.

Sources with the NPC Standing Committee said earlier the postponement in December was suggested by the State Council as it was evaluating China's food safety monitoring system and practices.

Also at the February session, lawmakers will continue to review amendments to the Criminal Law and to the Insurance Law. They will also discuss a treaty with Peru on judicial assistance on civil and commercial affairs, an extradition treaty with Mexico and a consular accord with Japan.

An important task at the four-day session is to prepare for the upcoming parliament full session, the Second Session of the 11th NPC, scheduled to open March 5.

Participants at the February session will deliberate a draft report on the work of the 11th NPC Standing Committee, the draft agenda of the second 11th NPC session, the draft presidium and secretary-general name list, and a draft name list of non-voting delegates of the session.

(Xinhua News Agency February 18, 2009)