Lawmakers consider revisions to law to boost ports' reaction to epidemics

Chinese lawmakers are mulling draft revisions to the country's Frontier Health and Quarantine Law that would beef up emergency response measures against major outbreaks at its many ports.

The draft law was submitted to a session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for the first review on Monday. The session will run from Monday to Friday.

Revisions under review would improve regular health and quarantine protocols at ports, clarify emergency measures that should be taken when an epidemic occurs and intensify penalties for violators.

Yu Jianhua, the head of the General Administration of Customs, said on Monday that the draft version also highlights that quarantine measures should be scientific and precise so as to reduce their impact on regular trade and economic activities as much as possible.

The Frontier Health and Quarantine Law first took effect in 1987 and has undergone three earlier rounds of amendment — in 2007, 2009 and 2018.

Yu said the law has played an important role in preventing the cross-border spread of contagious illnesses and safeguarding the health and security of people. However, revisions are needed to further strengthen ports' emergency measures and public health capabilities.