Chinese food and drug regulators are required to report food accidents to their superiors and local health authorities within six hours, according to a government draft regulation on Thursday.

The draft, issued by the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA), demands that once accidents occur involving 30 or more people, food and drug regulators at or above the county level should report them to their superiors and local health authorities within six hours.

With regard to food safety accidents that occur on campuses, during important nationwide festivities, involve 100 people or more, or kill one or more people, food and drug regulators should not only abide by the "six hour regulation," but also report them to the SFDA "in a timely manner," according to the draft.

Catering service runners, should they find food accidents, are asked to immediately stop using all suspicious food and cooking facilities and protect the site. They are also required to report to medical authorities and food regulators at or above the county level within two hours.

The draft regulation also stipulates that heads at schools, companies or government organs will be held accountable if food accidents occur twice in one year in their cafeterias.

The SFDA also asked food and drug regulators at all levels to formulate emergency plans to deal with food accidents based on local conditions.

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2009)