China Preparing Law to Safeguard Grain Security, Xinhua Says

By Bloomberg News - Oct 30, 2011 8:21 AM GMT+0700

China is preparing to introduce a grain law to safeguard the security of the staple in the country, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee of the National People’s Congress.

A draft bill, which is being prepared by the National Development and Reform Commission and State Administration of Grain, will be submitted to the State Council for review in the “near future,” Xinhua said, citing a report the committee gave to a meeting of the NPC’s standing committee yesterday.

The law should stress efforts to improve China’s grain production capability, protect farmland resources and “legalize” policies favorable to agriculture and farmers, according to the committee’s report, Xinhua said.

The legislation should also clarify the government’s duties on guarding grain security and cover how to improve the national grain reserve system and “prevent foreign capital from undermining national grain security,” Xinhua said, citing the report.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Nerys Avery at navery2@bloomberg.net