On March 2, 2009, Chen Xiaohong, vice minister of China's Health Ministry, said that the Food Safety Law particularly specified norms for comprehensive coordination and departmental responsibilities. One of the major characteristics of this law is the implementation of an accountability system, which clarifies the responsibility of each functional department in comprehensive management and phased management. It was reported that the Food Safety Law, which was passed with a large majority during the seventh session of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress, will be officially enforced on June 1, 2009. The law presents eight highlights: a clear food safety supervision system, establishment of a safety risk evaluation system, unified national food safety standards, strengthened social responsibility of operators, food additives must be safe and reliable, strict supervision of health foods, effective handling of food safety accidents, and establishment of a punitive compensation system.