Several ministry-level departments, including those for market regulation, medical security and civil affairs, have responded recently to issues of public concern.

Online shopping fraud targeted

China has introduced measures to step up oversight on infringements of intellectual property rights for online shopping and imports and exports.

A joint plan for law enforcement was issued by the State Administration for Market Supervision and another five government departments to target wrongdoing, including infringements of trademark rights and copyright as well as commercial secrets.

These cover a number of aspects including, strengthening oversight on law enforcement and scaling up punishments over IPR infringements.

Other measures include expanding sources of infringement clues, and reinforcing connectivity between administrative and criminal law enforcement.

The plan also called for efforts to enhance cooperation between government departments and companies, and improve the regulatory system.

More cancer drugs on State list

More anti-cancer drugs eligible for medical insurance reimbursement will be made available in the country’s new list of medicines, according to the National Healthcare Security Administration.

The administration said in a statement on April 24 that medicines for rare diseases, chronic illness, children and first-aid treatment are also among the options for a lengthened reimbursement list.

According to the statement, candidates for the new list of drugs must be those that have already been launched in markets with official approval before Dec 31, 2018.

The administration also banned some medicines from the list, including those stemming from endangered wild animals and plants, contraceptives, and pharmaceuticals for slimming, cosmetology and to help quit smoking.

Medicines that have been banned from production, sales and use by national drug regulators should be removed from the list, said the statement.

The adjustment to the list is the first after the forming of the administration last year. The current list was released in 2017, which contained a total of 2,588 medicines.

Recycled items alert issued

The Ministry of Civil Affairs has issued a warning to the public over fraud in the name of recycling used items including old clothes.

The ministry said in a statement on April 19 that a number of organizations have violated the charity law as they launch donation campaigns to recycle old clothes from the public in the name of charities.

Some organizations were found to use the activities to make profits, the ministry said.

The ministry noted that some nongovernmental organizations and businesses were found to collect the donations even though they are ineligible for collecting public donations.

According to China’s charity law, only registered organizations that have obtained qualifications could collect donations from the public.

The ministry also reminded the public of the necessity to check the qualifications of organizations before making donations.

The information can be accessed at the national charity information platform, the ministry said, adding that reporting on illegal collection of donations is also encouraged.

Greater emphasis on water safety

The office of the education supervision commission of the State Council urged education authorities and schools nationwide to step up efforts to protect students from drowning.

The authority issued the warning on April 16 after a number of drowning incidents across the country with rising temperatures and increasing engagement of students in outdoor activities.

Local authorities should conduct in-depth analysis of areas, locations and reasons for the drowning incidents and issue early warnings on time, the office said.

It is also important for schools to remind students of the extreme danger of going into water without permission, and telling them to stay away from dangerous water bodies.

The authority also urged schools to carry out various forms of safety education to improve student safety awareness, as well as their families’ and guardians’ sense of responsibility.

Meanwhile, education authorities should work with departments including public security, water resources, meteorology to set up warnings and railings near dangerous water bodies and to carry out more patrols, the office said.