China reported good product quality for 1999, according to statistics released by the State Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision (SBQTS) on January 17.

Out of 9,000 products from 7,485 enterprises examined by the Bureau in 1999, 78.6 percent were up to standard, up 0.8 percent from 1998.

The quality of products from large enterprises was better than that from small-sized ones. The qualified rate of large enterprises was 91.9 percent, while only 70.6 percent of the products of small enterprises met required standards.

The quality of insecticides, herbicides and foodstuffs in agriculture improved. Household appliances have also vastly improved. However, some problems were reported in the agricultural machines, beverages and construction materials.

Xuan Xiang, an official from SBQTS, said that the Bureau will strengthen its supervision of small enterprises and markets. Those found producing "fake" products or selling inferior, shoddy goods will be punished accordingly.