China's State Council, or the cabinet, on Thursday announced the abolishment of regulations on inspection exemptions for food.

In a circular distributed to ministries and governments at all levels, the cabinet said that it had decided to abolish the regulations relating to quality inspection exemptions for food in a document issued on December 5, 1999.

It urged the ministries and governments to step up supervision, perform their duties strictly and carry out food quality inspections in line with relevant laws to ensure food safety.

(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2008)