China will step up its efforts to improve regulations relating to food safety issues, said Che Wenyi, vice-director of the Certification and Accreditation Administration.

"We will improve the technical certification and accreditation system and tighten our regulations (on food safety issues) and enhance cooperation with international organizations," Che said at the Global Food Safety Initiative forum, an international food industry event, in Beijing on Thursday.

In June, the State Council issued a directive calling for governments at all levels to reinforce their regulations on food safety and crack down on any breaches.

In July, the Supreme People's Procuratorate issued a circular ordering all procuratorates to raise the public awareness of food security issues by severely punishing any food safety related crimes.

"Food safety is an issue that affects the whole industry. Companies should strive to lead the industry to achieve progress in this respect," said Wan Zaomiao, vice-president of China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corp, the country's largest State-owned food conglomerate. "It (food safety) should be an industry consensus, rather than a matter of competition," he said.

Kevin Chen, chief operating officer of China Resources Vanguard Co that runs a supermarket chain, said retailers and suppliers need to cooperate better to guarantee food safety.

"Food safety issues have become a non-tariff barrier for Chinese products in the international market," he said. "We need further consolidate the food industry and clarify the regulations." Chen said.