The State Council has decided to cancel 25 administrative approval items and delegate six to lower-level authorities, according to a circular released on March 6.

For another five administrative approval items set according to related laws, these laws will be submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress for revision, the circular said.

Approvals of overall plans for developing petroleum and natural gas with foreign companies, and those of transmission network construction projects, as well as 23 other kinds of administrative permits, will be scrapped.

Six approval items will be delegated to authorities at lower levels. For example, the issuance of permits for passenger vessel business and shipping of dangerous bulk liquid cargo between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao will be delegated from the Ministry of Transport to provincial transport departments.

Related departments in various regions should ensure the implementation of the measures, and publish specific supervision rules within 20 working days after the circular’s release.