Revisions focus on improved information sharing among nation's port authorities

Lawmakers are mulling draft revisions to the country's Frontier Health and Quarantine Law that would bolster emergency response measures against major outbreaks at the country's ports. Experiences accumulated during the fight against COVID-19 have been incorporated, authorities said.

The draft law was submitted to a session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for first review on Monday. The session will run until Friday.

Revisions state that local customs, health and disease control authorities and research institutions should exchange surveillance information on contagious diseases. The General Administration of Customs should also promptly evaluate the risk of outbreaks spreading overseas and release early warnings.

According to Yu Jianhua, head of the administration, a whole new section dedicated to emergency response targeting acute outbreaks has been added to the draft. Specific statutes have incorporated effective approaches deployed to tackle COVID-19.

Emergency measures such as collecting medical samples of inbound passengers and putting them under medical observation, designating ports for receiving inbound and outbound travelers and shipments, shutting down ports temporarily or suspending some of their functions, can be taken.

Top authorities can also cut international flights, reduce routes and cap the number of passengers onboard. In some circumstances, inbound travelers could be requested to carry testing results before boarding, and preventive hygiene measures can be taken on cargo and other items crossing the border.

These measures should be implemented upon approval from the State Council. They should also be published in advance, and be adjusted or lifted based on the latest conditions.

The draft states that in border areas, intensified efforts should be made to carry out regular patrols, manage traffic and personnel so as to rein in the risk of infectious diseases spreading through illegal immigration channels.

"The draft version highlights that quarantine measures should be scientific and precise so as to reduce their impact on regular trade and economic activities as much as possible," said Yu while delivering a report on the draft revisions to the top legislature on Monday.

China has 314 ports of entry — 82 airports, 103 land ports and 129 water ports — according to Li Xingqian, an official with the Ministry of Commerce.

The Frontier Health and Quarantine Law took effect in 1987 and was amended in 2007, 2009 and 2018.

Yu said the law has played an important role in preventing the cross-border spread of contagious diseases and safeguarding the health and security of the people. However, revisions are needed to strengthen ports' emergency measures and public health capabilities, especially as some weaknesses were exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A number of domestic COVID-19 outbreaks were triggered by imported cases, prompting authorities to tighten disease control measures in port cities.

With China experiencing a surge in respiratory illnesses this winter, authorities have also highlighted the significance of ports' disease control measures, such as conducting regular surveillance of COVID-19 variants and strengthening the testing of travelers who report abnormal health conditions.

In October, a draft revision for the infectious disease prevention and control law aimed at improving the country's epidemic surveillance, early warning and reporting systems for infectious diseases was submitted to the top legislature for first review.