HOHHOT -- Top Chinese legislator Zhang Dejiang has urged companies to obey the food safety law and told government organs to fulfill their supervisory duties, vowing to deal harshly with crimes in the field.

Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, made the remarks during a visit to North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region between May 7 and 9, to investigate how the law has been implemented.

During the inspection, Zhang inquired after quality control at livestock raising facilities as well as farming and herding co-ops, urging leading agricultural companies and co-ops to strengthen supervision and management of food products, with special focus on feedstuffs, additives and pesticides.

Zhang urged food-makers and sellers to follow all required procedures on raw materials and finished products, while keeping clear sales records as part of a food safety liability backtracking system.

Calling on agricultural academies and food inspection centers to improve examination and quarantine procedures, Zhang stressed that the dairy companies should give priority to quality and safety in their development.