China's food and drug watchdog is waging war on the illegal production and sale of counterfeit food and drugs in the country's disaster relief drive. It is vowing to take strict precautions against an influx of anything substandard into areas affected by the brutal winter weather.

In an emergency circular issued here on Thursday, the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) ordered its local agencies in disaster-stricken regions to intensify supervision on the quality of food and drugs that were rendered in short supply because of the disrupted communications.

The supervision should center on areas along highways, rail lines, airports, transport stations and other populous venues to prevent food safety accidents involving large groups of people, according to the circular.

Provincial food and drug authorities must have in reserve enough drugs to tackle any possible disasters, such as blood products and vaccines, and to conduct inspections or spot checks on drugs donated for disaster relief.

Any company or persons producing and selling fake or substandard drugs and food will be "severely dealt with and harshly punished," the administration said.

Unusual cold, heavy snow, sleet and ice rain has hit 17 provinces in central and south China in the past two weeks. About 1.6 million people have been evacuated to safer places with 38 dead since January 10, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Direct economic loss was estimated at 32.67 billion yuan (about US$4.5 billion).

(Xinhua News Agency February 1, 2008)