Harbin has announced united new campaign in the fight against counterfeit rice under the Wuchang brand, one of China’s best-known rice products, adding that they plan to work with other government departments to restore order in the rice market to protect Wuchang’s interests, as well as food safety.

The announcement came at a recent public security bureau conference where they said they will expand inspections at wholesale agricultural product markets, food markets, and trade fairs, especially the rural-urban zones and among large rice enterprises. The police will look into cases that harm the Wuchang brand, according to Cao Zhenhe, vice-head of the city’s public security bureau.

Wuchang is known for its superior quality and carries a special geographical designation but there are accusations of some rice producers passing off fake rice at Wuchang prices and estimates from the Heilongjiang Wuchang Rice Association president of less than 1 percent of the Wuchang rice on the market being genuine. So, 99 percent of the Wuchang rice consumers cannot get the real stuff no matter how much they pay.