Govt policy moves from past week

Increased efforts vowed to prevent swine fever spreading

China will step up efforts to prevent the spread of African swine fever, the State Council decided at an executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Sept 26.

Although the outbreaks are not spreading, the meeting called for zero complacency in disease control efforts, according to a statement released after the meeting.

Local authorities are required to take general responsibility for prevention efforts in their areas and must perform oversight in outbreak areas to implement measures including culling and disinfection.

The use of swill as pig feed in provincial areas that have reported outbreaks is strictly prohibited. The screening and monitoring of outbreaks will also be stepped up, and more efforts will be devoted to research into key technologies for prevention and vaccines, the statement said.

The central government will provide financial support to improve oversight of pig farming areas, slaughtering and quarantine procedures, and transport vehicles, it said, adding that more will also be done to prevent infected pigs from going to market, with measures to ensure pigs in affected provincial areas and surrounding areas cannot be transported outside.

Pork supplies will be ensured to meet public demand and food safety, the statement said.

Production license revamp continues to reduce red tape

The State Council has decided to cut the categories of industrial products that require official licensing for production, according to a policy document released on Sept 30.

A further 14 categories of industrial products will no longer require official licensing for production, reducing the number of categories that require such licensing from 38 to 24, the document said.

For the remaining 24 categories, simplified approval procedures will be adopted to further cut red tape. The old practice of product inspection before the issuing of approval will give way to enterprises presenting reports that show their products passed quality tests.

For products related to environmental protection and public health and safety, the official licensing will be replaced by the China Compulsory Certification, it said.

Incentives will encourage enterprises to conduct certification on their own as part of the measures to help build their brand and expand markets.

The measure follows a decision by the State Council in September last year to cut 19 categories of products, including water pipes and rechargeable batteries.

For enterprises whose products still require licensing from provincial authorities, all except for producers of dangerous chemicals can submit the necessary materials and guarantee authorities about the quality of their products before they obtain licenses, the document said.

Management of cental SOE leaders stepped up

China will step up management of the officials who run centrally administered State-owned enterprises, according to a regulation published on Sept 29.

The regulation, released by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, is aimed at encouraging central SOE leaders to take new responsibilities in the new era. It is also intended to introduce a better management system that is different from that of the Party and government officials.

The regulation includes stipulations on the leaders’ qualification, appointment, performance evaluation, payment and incentives.

It will also help enhance the Party leadership over central SOEs, improve the quality of management for managers, further stimulate and protect entrepreneurship, and develop world-class enterprises with global competitiveness, the regulation said.

The regulation was adopted in May at the second meeting of the Committee for Deepening Overall Reform of the CPC Central Committee. Central SOE leaders should be selected on the basis of both integrity and ability, with priority given to integrity, while equal emphasis should be placed on providing incentives and imposing constraints, a statement released after the meeting said.