(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-08-24 13:54

BEIJING -- In response to a rising number of chemical accidents and radioactive leakages from factories and plants, China is considering to make it mandatory for all companies dealing with hazardous chemicals to regularly check on their operations and map out emergency plans.

The draft emergency response law, which was on Friday submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) for a third hearing, made an addition on on how to deal with emergencies caused by explosives, hazardous chemicals and radioactive materials.

"Coal mines, construction sites, and work units who produce, deal with, transport, stockpile and use explosive, combustible and hazardous chemicals and radioactive material production should establish detailed emergency counterplans and launch regular check at the venues where hazardous materials are produced and stockpiled, so as to rule out hidden dangers and avoid such emergencies," the draft law said.

The draft emergency response law has drawn wide attention, as its first version which was submitted for first read in June 2006, included a provision saying that "news media that irregularly report the development and handling of emergencies without authorization or release fraudulent reports will be fined between 50,000 yuan (or US$6,250) and 100,000 yuan, if the reports lead to serious consequences."

The provision was cut out from the draft when it was submitted to the NPC Standing Committee for a second read in June after heated debates among lawmakers and the public, many of whom argued that it could be misused by some government bodies to block the timely release of emergency information.