EXPLORATION: The Chinese research vessel and icebreaker Xuelong (Snow Dragon) sails on the Sulawesi Sea on November 12. The vessel will embark on China's 30th scientific expedition to Antarctica (ZHANG JIANSONG)

School Safety

China is to establish a procedure to help guarantee safety in school buildings, according to a circular issued on November 12 by the State Council, China's cabinet.

The procedure will include safety checks twice a year and the providing of emergency warnings, easily accessible safety information and training on risk-aversion management strategies. Local government chiefs will be held responsible for any casualties caused by inadequately built structures.

Policies covering primary and secondary schools were put into practice back in 2009 and have since sharply reduced accidents. According to the circular, however, there is still plenty that can be done as school facilities, especially those in rural areas, are far from perfect.

Local governments are to step up the repair, reinforcement, reconstruction and expansion of schools until all campuses meet national standards.

PLA Recruitment

According to a statement made by the People's Liberation Army on November 10, more 100,000 online job applications were received, most from people holding bachelor's degrees or above, for civilian posts during their recent recruitment drive lasting from October 22 to November 5.

One out of 38 candidates will be recruited, the General Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army said, with examinations to be held on December 15.

This is the PLA's first unified recruitment of personnel from the public, a move to attract talent and improve employment transparency.

The army civilian posts cover professional and technical stations, including teaching, scientific research, engineering, health, culture, sports and libraries, as well as non-professional posts such as management and logistics services.

Food Assessments

New materials for food production must be subjected to risk assessment from qualified institutions before they can be approved, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) said on November 12.

The NHFPC has added the requirement to recent regulations on applications for new foodstuffs, saying that assessment must contain a review of hygiene, virology and an analysis of composition.

It should also include research, usage and sales information from other countries, risk assessment by international organizations and safety studies in scientific journals, according to the commission.

The new regulations stipulate that new food materials should have the characteristics of raw food, conform to nutritional requirements and have no health risks.

A panel of NHFPC experts will examine applications.