BEIJING, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi on Thursday called to boost routine market checkups and to set up effective long-term monitoring mechanisms amid efforts to ensure food safety.

    Speaking at the national Industry and Commerce Administration meeting in the capital, Wu encouraged harsh clampdowns on illegal advertising of drugs, medical devices, cosmetics and beauty services.

    She also urged the Industry and Commerce Administration authorities to better protect trademark rights and to boost crackdowns on commercial bribery and pyramid selling.

    Zhou Bohua, head of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, said at the meeting that the administration uncovered 56,500 cases of illegal advertisements during the first 11 months of 2007.

    In addition, the administration uncovered 3,747 pyramid selling cases, Zhou said. He added a total of 3,648 people involving 753 cases had been handed over to prosecutors.

Editor: Yan Liang