Organic food which does not meet regulations will be banned from the market, say the officials, and the government will ensure that any organic food which reaches the market is safe, clean, and pollution-free.

Thorough tests will be conducted to ensure the quality of the food and of their growing environment. The government administration will also require that air, water and soil are all up to the national standards needed for an acceptable environment.

The regulations will help standardize the organic food market and protect consumers' rights, as unsafe operations are stamped out, officials say.

China, which first began promoting organically grown food in 1990, now has over 800 organic enterprises with a total market return of 50 billion yuan, including exports of one billion yuan, according to official statistics.

( October 19,2001)