"Currently, there are too many loopholes and weak controls over GM food and technology in China. More clarified and detailed regulations are needed," said Fang Lifeng, a campaigner for Greenpeace China's food and agriculture project.

Agricultural professionals said the draft is the country's first law to ensure grain safety by stabilizing output and intensifying control and supervision over the market.

The draft includes stipulations concerning the safeguarding of grain production and encourages producers to improve storage conditions to ensure quality.

According to the draft, producers are forbidden from processing mildewed grain or grain that has been contaminated by pesticide residue or heavy metals. Contaminated vehicles and packing materials are also banned from transporting grain.

The production, circulation and sale of edible vegetable oil will also be under scrutiny, as it is a daily necessity for most people, the draft said.

The draft states that provincial-level governments are responsible for regional production, circulation, storage and regulation enforcement to ensure quality and supplies.

To ensure market order, the draft bans traders from spreading rumors, manipulating prices, monopolizing the market or cheating customers.

Lu Bu, a researcher in agricultural resources and regional planning at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said that the draft is timely as the country's agricultural production has been increasingly threatened by rapid industrialization and urbanization.

"Similar laws for ensuring grain safety also exist in many developed countries as agricultural production is easily being ignored due to advanced urbanization," he said.

"For instance, in the United States, grain quality has been listed as a top concern rather than grain output, which should be taken as a reference for China," he said.