China implements a series of new laws from May 1st

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Source: CCTV.com | 05-01-2007 12:52

Starting from today, the first of May, China will enforce a series of new laws and regulations across the country.

Employment of disabled people

Under the first regulation, the number of disabled employees in any company or government sector must exceed 1.5 percent of the total staff. Social security departments must provide unemployment benefits to ensure a minimum standard of living for jobless disabled people. The regulation also exempts registration and management fees for private businesses owned by disabled people.

Human organ transplants

In April this year, China issued its first regulations on human organ transplants. The regulations aim to ban all forms of organ trading and regulate the country's huge organ transplant market. Taking effect today, the new rules are a milestone for China's health sector. However, the legal framework remains incomplete. Chinese health authorities say a wider definition of death is required for human organ transplants to replace the traditional standard of cessation of heartbeat. Medical experts say amending the law to allow organs to be removed from people declared "brain-dead" would significantly increase organ supply.

New rule on flight security

Starting from today, travelers on all domestic and international flights leaving China must adhere to new rules on carrying liquids. Passengers can now carry a maximum of one liter of liquids and each item must not exceed 100 milliliters. Liquids must be kept in re-sealable clear plastic bags and each passenger must not carry more than one plastic bag.

Government structure

The final new regulation concerns the organizational structure and size of regional government bodies. The law says governments at all levels must not establish, dissolve or merge administrative bodies without authorization. And the public should continually supervise the work of management in governments above county-level.

Editor:Du Xiaodan