China to curb 'one-size-fits-all' law enforcement on factory ventilation

BEIJING -- Chinese authorities have unveiled a set of guidelines to curb "one-size-fits-all" law enforcement concerning the ventilation of factories.

The guidelines, issued by the ministries of justice, ecology and environment, and emergency management, came in response to enterprises' reports of inconsistent requirements from local law enforcement personnel on whether factories should keep windows open or closed during production.

According to the guidelines, in workplaces with pollutant emissions where full enclosure or sealing is not feasible, law enforcement personnel cannot simply urge them to keep windows closed; instead, measures such as using cleaner raw materials and localized management of exhaust gases may be adopted.

For enclosed or sealed workplaces, when emitted hazardous substances exceed safety thresholds, ventilation measures such as interlocked fan systems should be adopted, while law enforcement personnel should not simply urge enterprises to "always keep windows open," the document said.

It asked relevant local authorities to better understand law enforcement standards in light of the characteristics of enterprises across different fields, and to strengthen training for law enforcement personnel to avoid rigid enforcement.