Last week, China’s Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress voted to amend its current food safety law in an effort to enforce stricter punishments for violations as well as more stringent rules and regulations regarding infant formula. The amendment is planned for enforcement on October 1, 2015.

The new food safety laws in China will contain 154 articles--about 50 more than the current version contains. There will be a special emphasis on sections that outline infant formula. Enforcement will also require additional resources and employee headcount--two necessities that insiders say are lacking.

In terms of discipline, food safety violators can expect more than fees, fines and license revocation. Now, anyone who adds inedible material to food items can be jailed, possibly up to 15 days. Other proposed punishments include fines of up to 30 times the implicated product’s value--the previous fine was up to 10 times. Stricter sanctions for others who may be aware of and do not report food safety violations--landlords, suppliers and food safety officials--are also in the works.

These new food safety efforts are part of China’s attempt to improve an already poor food safety reputation that has included the distribution and sale of contaminated meat and infant formula--the latter of which caused six infant deaths in 2008. China’s food safety scandals have involved major brands such as McDonald’s and Walmart.