China amends 25 laws to cut administrative procedure

BEIJING - China's top legislature Friday approved amendments to a total of 25 laws to streamline administration and delegate powers to lower level governments.

Submitted by the State Council, China's cabinet, amendments have been made to laws including drug administration, education, postal service, railway, tax, tobacco monopoly and pollution.

Taxpayers will no longer need to "make a written application" and "get approval from the examining authority" before they get tax reductions or exemptions, according to one amendment.

The amendments remove administrative approval for qualifications of insurance salespersons, insurance brokers, and urban and rural planners.

Drug producers will need to visit provincial drug supervisors to get certified.

The amendments also allow competitive prices for drugs, railways and postal services. The prices of drugs, railway tickets, parcel freight and postal fees will be determined by both the government and market.