Regulation requiring school officials to dine with students to take effect on April 1

BEIJING -- A new regulation will take effect on April 1, requiring school officials from kindergartens to secondary schools in China to dine with their students at school canteens.

The mechanism is aimed at spotting problems and hazards regarding school food safety and address them in a timely manner, according to the regulation jointly issued by the Ministry of Education, the State Administration for Market Regulation and the National Health Commission.

Schools are also required to release food sources, suppliers and other information and set up risk prevention and control systems.

Food safety supervision departments are required to strengthen supervision over school food safety by conducting regular inspections on and around campuses, as well as guiding schools to implement food safety responsibilities, according to the statement.

The regulation also aims to establish the work requirements for prevention, emergency response and coping with school food safety accidents.