BEIJING - China's procuratorates will strictly investigate cases of malpractice by officials that involve the people's livelihoods such as food safety and housing issues.

China in March 2011 launched a national special campaign among its procuratorial agencies to investigate cases of infringement acts and derelictions of duty by officials that harm the people's livelihoods.

As of January 2012, procuratorates across the country have received 5,730 reports and clues on such cases, investigated over 5,000 cases, according to a statement issued at a conference held by the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) Friday.

In 2012, the procuratorates will continue the malpractice investigations with the focus on the cases involving education, employment, public health, food and drug safety, social security and the affordable housing program, the statement said.

The campaign will also target cases of officials' breach of duty that disturb market order as well as those of production and sale of counterfeit goods, the statement said.

Moreover, malpractice involving illegal land acquisition and house demolition, production safety accidents, meddling in grassroots elections and other violations in the cultural sector will also be emphasized in this year's campaign, the statement said.

Over the past year, the procuratorial agencies in China have investigated malpractice cases in relation to several food safety scandals such as those involving clenbuteral, gutter oil and dyed buns, the SPP statement said.