A new government department devoted to food safety supervision and the enforcement of associated standards and regulations is certain to improve the quality of what Chinese people eat, said a senior health official.

Chen Xiaohong, vice-minister of health, made the remarks on the sidelines of the annual session of the 12th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee.

Food safety is currently within the purview of a number of government agencies such as the ministries of health and commerce, the State Food and Drug Administration, and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.