Regulation to boost emergency response

China will begin to enforce a new regulation on production safety and emergency response on April 1, under a decree signed by Premier Li Keqiang.

The regulation was approved in a State Council executive meeting on Dec 5 and is the first such document to be adopted after the Ministry of Emergency Management was established in March last year to oversee emergency responses nationwide.

The 35-clause regulation, written in compliance with China's laws on safe production and emergency responses, clarifies the responsibilities of governments at all levels, said Sun Huashan, vice-minister of emergency management, at a policy briefing hosted by the State Council Information Office on Friday. The regulation also lists requirements for emergency response plans, exercises, team-building, equipment and on-duty arrangements, he said.