China has reportedly passed amendments to its food safety rules that will see offenders given "the heaviest penalties yet".

According to the official Xinhua news agency, the revamped food safety law comprises 154 articles compared with 104 in the original. It stipulates harsher punishment for food safety-related violations and adds new articles and provisions to tighten regulations on baby formula and online shopping.

The amendments come into force on 1 October and look likely to form the "toughest food safety law" in China's history, said Xinhua, as the amendment is considered a move toward achieving the strictest ever supervision system for food safety.