National standards issued on food, goods

National standards on food, consumer goods, work safety and cross-border e-commerce have been issued recently, the State Administration for Market Regulation announced at a news conference in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, on Nov 24.

According to the administration, three new national standards for food container safety have been rolled out in a bid to improve the monitoring of products to ensure quality and food security.

As new materials and techniques are being used in food packaging, the standards aim to enhance quality control for metal containers and fill the current gap in quality assessment.

Regarding consumer goods, two national standards related to clocks and watches have been announced in an effort to help promote the global competitiveness of Chinese products.

In terms of cross-border e-commerce, the administration said four national standards have been formulated to solve problems such as a lack of clarity in product descriptions.

Public opinion sought on workplace hazards

The Ministry of Emergency Management has begun soliciting public opinion on a draft document outlining hidden hazards in industrial and trade sectors such as metallurgy, machinery and tobacco.

In a notice issued on Nov 24, the ministry said the document aims to further strengthen work safety management to prevent serious accidents.

The document identifies 59 types of risks, including dust explosion hazards and carbon monoxide poisoning in small spaces.

Opinion solicitation will end on Dec 23, according to the notice.

Marine economy enjoying sound growth

China's marine economy saw sound development last year, enlarging its scale and optimizing its structure, the National Marine Data and Information Service said on Nov 24.

Last year, the country's gross marine product exceeded 9 trillion yuan ($1.26 trillion), with a year-on-year increase of 8.3 percent, according to a report released by the NMDIS.

Per capita net income for deep-sea fishermen and women last year was 1.5 times the 2015 figure, the report said.

Emerging marine industries have gained strong momentum in recent years, with the added value of these industries soaring 100 percent last year from the level in 2015.

The report also said that China's ocean tourism market recovered as strong demand for local leisure and short-distance trips to coastal areas grew rapidly.

Last year, the national ocean park area per 10,000 people increased by 0.7 hectares from 2015, providing people with easier access to the sea.

Cash reward offered for tipoffs on fraud

People providing tipoffs about those stealing healthcare security funds by defrauding the system will receive cash rewards as authorities ramp up efforts to crack down on the crime.

The rewards are stipulated in a document due to take effect on Jan 1.

It was issued on Nov 25 by the National Healthcare Security Administration and the Ministry of Finance.

Informants can receive a one-time reward of no less than 200 yuan ($27.93). The specific amount will depend on the specific cases.

The maximum reward has been raised from 100,000 yuan to 200,000 yuan, the document said.