By Du Wenjuan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2008-02-20 10:13

"No one with STD's (sexually transmitted diseases) allowed" may be a new sign making an appearance in every public bath in China to comply with new national standards for the industry that will be implemented before July, according to information released recently from the China General Chamber of Commerce.

Those who have contracted sexually transmitted and infectious diseases will be barred from sharing public bath facilities with others from then on.

The new standards for management and level-rating of such businesses will stress specific rules to strengthen sanitation controls such as the cleanliness of bathtubs, bath water, tools and lockers.

The service staff will also need to have training, get certified and take regular health tests.

Though small public baths save costs for those who have difficulties bathing at home, sanitation and pollution problems are becoming a bigger concern for more bathers and regulators alike.

Nationally an increasing number of luxury sauna and spa centers have opened, while these clean facilities will be out of reach for many people in average-income communities, said Li Yongjiang a researcher with Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.

Public bath owners are now faced with the dilemma of either closing their low-rated baths or spending more money to "upgrade" them.

"For me, I may have to close this small bath house," says Li Jun, who owns one in Daxing District, suburban Beijing.