BEIJING, May 1 (UPI) -- The Chinese government banned outdoor grilling Sunday in an effort to curb the pollution that plagues the country.
The ban prohibits all outdoor grilling and food preparation. Chinese officials say the regulation will help cut down on smog.
The smog and pollution levels in China have reached up 15 times higher than deemed safe by the World Health Organization and is mainly attributed to the lightly regulated industrial sector and the millions of cars on the road.
The ban could hit the food industry as many people line the streets with grilling stands to purchase food during the warmer months. People who violate the ban could face up to a $3,000 fine. They will now have to either move their operation indoors or shut down completely.
The ban has been widely criticized with many calling for Beijing to focus on the real problems of industrial and automobile pollution.
