Head of the State Food and Drug Administration Shao Mingli stressed here Wednesday the safety of food and drug in regions hit by the 8.0-magnitude quake on May 12.

"Serious punishment should be given immediately to those who manufacture and trade low-quality food or drug in quake zone," Shao told a national teleconference.

He said to ensure the safety of drugs and medical facilities was a top priority in post-quake reconstruction of the food and drug sector.

The country's food and drug sector had sent medicines and medical facilities worth 2.4 billion yuan (340 million U.S. dollars) to quake zones immediately after the May 12 earthquake hit the southwestern Sichuan.

About 1.5 billion (210 million U.S. dollars) in relief funds and goods have been donated by medical companies across the country.

(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2008)