China has launched a six-month crackdown on unsafe meat as part of its efforts to ensure that food eaten in the world's most populous country is safe, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Wednesday.

The campaign, to last from June to December, will shut down unlicensed slaughterhouses and confiscate their equipment, products and illegal earnings, said a circular jointly issued by the MOC and five other ministries and government administrations.

Those who are found to feed pigs with clenobuterol hydrochloride, a fattening drug used to help pigs develop more muscles, as well as those who inject pork with water, will face severe punishments, the announcement warned.

The ministry urged local authorities to step up supervision over meat production and distribution for the sake of the health of the public.

(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2010)