Head of the State Food and Drug Administration Shao Mingli stressed on Wednesday the safety of food and drug in regions hit by the 8.0-magnitude quake on May 12.

"Serious punishment should be given immediately to those who manufacture and trade low-quality food or drug in quake zone," Shao told a national teleconference.

He said to ensure the safety of drugs and medical facilities was a top priority in post-quake reconstruction of the food and drug sector.

The country's food and drug sector had sent medicines and medical facilities worth 2.4 billion yuan (US$340 million) to quake zones immediately after the May 12 earthquake hit the southwest China's Sichuan.

About 1.5 billion (US$210 million) in relief funds and goods have been donated by medical companies across the country.

(Xinhua News Agency June 19, 2008)