Authorities to nurture high-quality brands

China has set the goal of nurturing companies and products known for their quality and advantages by 2035, according to a plan issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and six other departments.

The plan tasks local authorities with creating well-known brands in agriculture, industry and the service sector, and urges them to support companies to improve the quality of their products.

Authorities should help companies develop an operational system that is automatic, smart, green, standardized and refined, and encourage them to promote advanced quality management methods and establish traceability throughout the supply chain.

The plan also encourages companies to enhance their competitiveness by setting their quality standards higher than international and national ones and called for large companies, especially State-owned enterprises, to invest more in building their brands.

Notice promotes need to protect students

The Traffic Management Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security has issued a notice asking traffic management authorities to ensure the safety of students as the new semester begins in September.

The notice requires authorities to conduct thorough inspections around schools to make sure nearby roads are properly marked and that they are equipped with sufficient signage and lighting. Any problems should be corrected immediately, according to a news release issued by the bureau.

Authorities should also improve traffic signal timing and parking management on roads and intersections in front of schools to ease potential traffic jams.

It also asked authorities to monitor traffic around schools and continue to punish those who violate traffic rules, such as those that run red lights or refuse to give way to pedestrians at crossings.

They are also required to urge schools and school bus operators to root out safety risks on school buses, carry out a campaign to increase the public awareness of road safety around students and ensure teachers, students, parents and school bus drivers are able to protect themselves and respond to emergencies.

NHC calls for 'strictest' food safety standards

China aims to enact the "strictest" food safety standards during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, according to a plan released by the National Health Commission earlier this month.

The commission has asked local health authorities to systematically review current food safety standards and compare them with advanced standards around the world.

The plan also urges authorities to speed up the revision of standards concerning the limits of pollutants and pathogenic bacteria, as well as food additives and labeling, and calls for the country as a whole to play a larger role in meeting international food safety standards.

China should take part in activities organized by the UN's FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission and the World Trade Organization, and should contribute more to the formulation of key international food standards, the commission said.