Authorities asked to ensure food safety

The general offices of four central government agencies, including the State Administration for Market Regulation, have issued a notice asking authorities around the country to ensure food safety in schools and kindergartens.

Local authorities should instruct school canteens and companies providing meals to carry out self-inspection before the start of the new semester, and the supervision of those that had been shut down for a long time during the COVID-19 epidemic should be strengthened.

Authorities should also urge all those concerned to adhere to food safety standards and requirements and improve oversight of food purchasing, storing, processing, and delivering, as well as the sanitizing of dishes.

The new semester began for many schools and kindergartens earlier this month, with children returning to campus.

This is the first school semester to begin since the country downgraded its management of COVID-19 in January.

More support urged for transport, logistics sector

Financial institutions should take measures to strengthen support for the transportation and logistics sector to promote the smooth development of the national economy and of industrial and supply chains, a notice said.

The sector is the "lifeblood of the market economy", according to the notice jointly issued earlier this month by the People's Bank of China, the Ministry of Transport, and the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission.

The notice asked banking institutions to devise goals and work plans to lend more support to the sector and develop additional credit products in accordance with the needs of companies and people working in the sector.

Institutions are also encouraged to moderately increase their tolerance toward the sector's unpaid debts during the pandemic and while the economy is still recovering, among others.

National purchase of pork aims to control hog prices

Some 20,000 metric tons of frozen pork will be purchased to add to national central pork reserves in a bid to better manage hog prices, the National Development and Reform Commission said on Friday.

The hog-to-grain price ratio has fallen below 5 to 1, triggering the "level one early warning", which requires central and local authorities to purchase and store pork, according to the commission.

Fluctuations in the price of hogs are being closely followed, and efforts to regulate price and production capacity will continue to be strengthened to support a stable market, the commission said.

The country has a three-level warning system to monitor excessive increases or decreases in pork prices.

Ministry wants to help veterans find work

The Ministry of Veterans Affairs has issued a document with seven other departments calling for greater support for veterans who are having difficulties finding a job.

Authorities should maintain regular contact with veterans to build an accurate understanding of their situation and help them find suitable work, according to the ministry, which encourages veterans to participate in vocational skills training programs.

Government departments, employment services, social organizations, and companies should introduce more job opportunities to veterans, and they should receive employment assistance.

Veterans unable to find work even with the help of employment assistance should be offered government-subsidized jobs, according to the ministry.

The document also voiced its support for entrepreneurship and flexible employment.