China establishes hazardous chemical rules

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BEIJING, March 11 (UPI) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has signed a decree establishing new regulations on the production, storage and use of explosives and hazardous chemicals.

The State Council, China's Cabinet, published the regulations Friday, Xinhua, China's official, state-run news agency, reported. They become effective Dec. 1.

The regulations are aimed at improving the safety and protection of the public and the environment. They include clauses on the production, sale, transportation, storage and use of hazardous chemicals.

The decree will prohibit the transport of most toxic chemicals on rivers and offenders could be fined more than $150,000.

County-level governments will be required to set up methods to supervise and manage hazardous chemicals.

The decree doesn't provide details about specific chemicals, but a detailed catalog of dangerous chemicals will be made available soon, the report said.

China's current law regarding hazardous chemicals became effective in March 2002.