Safety

Fireworks watch aims to clear air

Weather authorities in Beijing issued a firework index for the first time on Feb 5 to ensure safety and reduce pollution, as sales of fireworks for the upcoming Spring Festival started at 1,337 certified stores in the city.

The index, which includes three grades, gives suggestions on whether the outdoor conditions are suitable for fireworks. The public can check the index by calling a hotline run by the capital's meteorological department or by reading its micro blog.

The index will be released every day throughout the Lunar New Year holiday, according to the bureau. Spring Festival is traditionally the most important festival in China and is the peak season for fireworks sales.

The index is based on a variety of weather conditions, including wind speed, humidity and precipitation. Last month Beijing had the worst hazy-day weather in decades. There were only five smog-free days.

Food

Ministry acts on dairy safety

China's food safety watchdog plans to introduce tougher regulations on the import and export of dairy products, following a series of scandals.

Any imported dairy product that fails to meet safety, health and environmental standards is likely to be destroyed within three months, or returned to its country of origin, according to a regulation released by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine on Feb 1.

The Supervision and Management Regulation on the Inspection and Quarantine of Imported and Exported Dairy Products will come into effect on May 1.

Recently, traces of dicyandiamide, or DCD, were discovered in products being imported from New Zealand, and the matter drew widespread attention in China.

China has become the world's largest baby formula milk powder market since 2008, as many Chinese parents have no confidence in the domestic brands.

Finance

Debt alert for local authorities

Plans announced by local governments to invest heavily in fixed assets this year have ignited a chorus of warnings from experts about debt.

A total of 19 provincial-level regions, out of 31 on the mainland, have set fixed-asset investment growth targets above 20 percent. Most of them are in central and western regions. In 2012, fixed-asset investment, or money spent on infrastructure, factories and public facilities, far exceeded 20 percent over the year in 11 provincial-level regions. The national average was 20.6 percent.

Experts said overspending on fixed assets might lead to mounting local debt and risk lenders being overexposed.

Data

Cost of living rises in cities

Shanghai is placed beside New York in a global cost- of-living index that also confirms Hong Kong's standing as the most expensive Chinese city.

New York is the benchmark city for the survey against which the cost of living in major cities is measured. Prices in Shanghai, on a weighted basis, match it.

With a score of 99 against New York's 100, Shanghai was ranked 30th of 131 cities, up 11 places from last year, in the Economist Intelligence Unit survey.

Hong Kong led Chinese cities, taking fourth place in Asia and 14th spot worldwide. After Shanghai, Shenzhen was second among Chinese mainland cities, coming in 14th in Asia and holding down 40th place overall, followed by Dalian, Beijing and Guangzhou. These cities all moved up the ranks from last year.

China Daily

(China Daily 02/08/2013 page2)