"New technology must play a dominant role in providing the state control of the safety and quality of consumer goods," Putin said at a State Council Presidium meeting, noting that this primarily concerned medicines.
Putin said the authorities should step up efforts to apply cutting-edge technology in a wide range of areas, including the service sector, health care and education.
"Only 5% of Russian teachers use information technologies in academic activities, whereas in Western European countries, this figure is several times higher, for example in Great Britain where it approaches 50%."
Putin said information technology was an important factor in the country's economic growth, particularly in management improvement.
"This must be taken into account during the implementation of nationwide projects."
