China's food safety authority has urged local governments to strengthen supervision and enforcement ahead of the upcoming May Day and Dragon Boat Festival holidays, aiming to prevent food safety risks and ensure a safe festive period for consumers.

In a notice issued recently, the State Council's Food Safety Office called on authorities nationwide to make early arrangements and intensify oversight across the food production, distribution and catering sectors during the peak holiday consumption season.

Regulators are urged to focus on widely consumed foods, seasonal holiday products, internet trending foods and health foods, while stepping up inspections at wholesale markets, retail chains and major e-commerce platforms.

Food producers and sellers should strictly fulfill their primary responsibility for food safety, while regulators will intensify inspections and crack down on violations such as the production or sale of counterfeit or substandard products, false advertising and illegal additives.

The notice also calls for stronger oversight of the catering sector, particularly chain restaurants, tour group catering services and popular online restaurants. Special attention will be given to problems linked to "ghost kitchens" — delivery-only operations without proper physical dining facilities.

Schools and other institutions that provide meals to large groups are required to reinforce food safety management and thoroughly examine potential risks. Local authorities are also tasked with tightening supervision over rural group banquets to prevent large-scale foodborne incidents.

In addition, regulators will expand food safety sampling inspections during the holiday period. Targeted testing will be conducted on high-risk foods and seasonal products such as zongzi, the traditional sticky rice dumpling eaten during the Dragon Boat Festival.

The notice also calls for smoother consumer complaint and reporting channels to better protect public rights and interests.