The draft food security law was submitted to a session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) for deliberation on June 28, with lawmakers putting forward amendment ideas on clarifying the concept of grain, improving the mechanism for ensuring producers' income, and effective prevention of food waste.

The draft, focusing on issues vital to China's food security, such as grain production, transportation, processing and reserving， will establish a rigorous and scientific legal system to guarantee food security, promote modernization of food security governance capabilities and consolidate the country's foundation of food security in all aspects, said the Chinese lawmakers.

During the deliberation, a number of the NPC Standing Committee members pointed out that the concept of miscellaneous grain crops and their end-products should be more clearly defined. In addition, potatoes, sweet potatoes and other tuberous crops, which have played an important role in China's food security, should be added to the category of grain, and targeted regulations should be made based on the characteristics and roles of tuberous  products to ensure the healthy development of related industries.

The lawmakers proposed to strengthen the mechanism for ensuring the earnings of grain producers to generate greater enthusiasm in growing crops. They also made suggestions to upgrade relevant regulations to accelerate training of professional talent teams for grain production and improve the technology level of grain producers, especially individual farmers, the main body of current grain production in the country.

The lawmakers also recommended inclusion of measures that will help the public to develop more rational and green consumption ideas to prevent food waste.

Food waste problems have been reported in the links of grain production, circulation, processing and consumption. Table food waste by the urban catering sector alone amount to 17 to 18 million tons a year, which is equivalent to the annual food consumption of 30 to 50 million people, according to official data.

The NPC Standing Committee members suggested the draft law to include articles that emphasize the food conservation obligations of catering industry operators, as well as industry organizations such as consumer associations, restaurant associations, and nutrition associations. They believe that food waste can be avoided by developing and implementing anti-food waste standards and regulations, incorporating the anti-food waste requirements into employee training, enhancing the anti-waste ability of the catering industry in food processing, and enhancing consumer guidance to save food.

Amendment proposals were also submitted to help address food waste problems in grain harvesting, warehousing and transportation.