A draft amendment to China's Fire Control Law, which requires businesses with high fire risks to take insurance, has been published on-line for public discussion and submissions.

Members of the public are invited to make recommendations and comments on the draft, published on the National People's Congress (NPC) website, www.npc.gov.cn., over the next month till June 5.

The proposed amendment to the existing Fire Control Law, which took effect in 1998, was submitted to the 11th NPC Standing Committee for its first hearing last month.

It specifies responsibilities and strengthened roles of social institutions in curbing fire risks and mitigating damage.

It requires public venues and enterprises that produce, store, transport or market inflammable or explosive materials to have fire insurance, with the intention that market-based risk controls will help improve business operators' capabilities in securing themselves against fires risks.

It also stipulates that densely-populated venues, large residential buildings or projects with special uses must be checked by the Ministry of Public Security's fire control departments prior to use.

Apart from fire control departments under the ministry, grassroots police stations would also given responsibilities for fire control, according to the amendment.

These stations were authorized to impose administrative penalties ranging from a warning to a maximum 500-yuan (US$71) fine on violators of fire control regulations.

The amendment is the second draft law made public by the 11th NPC, after the draft food safety law, which lays out penalties from fines to life in prison for makers of substandard food, was published on April 20.

Ministry of Public Security figures show 611 people died in 48,882 fires nationwide during the first quarter. Overall the situation was stable compared with the same period of last year, the ministry said.

Fires also resulted in 179 injuries and 280 million yuan (US$40 million) in losses.

Drafts of major laws regarding China's reform and development will be published on the NPC website to allow the public to make submissions and recommendations before they are passed, the General Office of the NPC Standing Committee has said.

Draft laws concerning the interests of the people will also be published via major news media.

Once the drafts are published, people can send their comments directly to the Legislative Work Committee of the NPC Standing Committee, or to its official website.

(Xinhua News Agency May 6, 2008)