China will launch another nationwide campaign on January 1 next year to crack down on unlicensed production and sale of food, in a fresh effort to ensure food safety, the country's top quality inspection watchdog said.

The campaign will target 28 categories of foods, including rice, cooking oil, meat, dairy products, instant noodles, tea and beer, according to the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

Sales of such food products without quality and inspection certificates will also be cracked down on. Those who break the law will be severely punished, the administration said.

A total of 192,400 unlicensed food shops were closed and some 1,254 tons of substandard food were withdrawn from the Chinese markets over the last four months, according to the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.

(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2007)