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1.jpg On July 2, 2016, the 21st meeting of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People’s Congress adopted a decision to amend six laws, including the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases. On July 2, **the Presidium*** issued Order No. 48, announcing the \"Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on Amending Six Laws including the Energy Conservation Law of the People’s Republic of China\" (hereinafter referred to as the \"Decision\"). According to this main order, the amendments made to the Law on the Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases by the Decision shall come into effect as of July 2, 2016. The history of formulation and revision of the Law on the Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases: On October 27, 2001, the then **head of state** issued Decree No. 60, announcing the Law on the Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases. This law came into effect on May 1, 2002, marking the point at which China’s efforts to prevent and control occupational diseases entered an era governed by specific legal provisions. On December 31, 2011, after 10 years, the Law on the Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases was amended for the first time. The 24th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People’s Congress adopted the \"Decision on Amending the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases,\" marking the birth of the second version of this law. On July 2, 2016, the 21st meeting of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People’s Congress passed the \"Decision on Amending Six Laws, including the Energy Conservation Law of the People’s Republic of China,\" and thus the third version (the latest version, 2016 edition) of the Law on the Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases was established. 1. Amend Paragraph 1 of Article 17 to read: “Where new construction, expansion, or renovation projects, as well as technology upgrading and technology introduction projects (hereinafter collectively referred to as construction projects), may pose risks of occupational diseases, the project owner shall conduct a preliminary assessment of such occupational disease risks during the feasibility study phase.” ” Add another clause as the second one: \"Where a medical institution construction project may pose risks of occupational radiation diseases, the project owner shall submit a pre-assessment report on such occupational radiation disease risks to the health administration department.\" The health administration department shall, within 30 days from the date of receiving the pre-evaluation report, make a decision on the review and notify the construction unit in writing. Construction shall not commence if a pre-evaluation report has not been submitted, or if the pre-evaluation report has not been approved by the health administration department. ” 2. Amend Paragraph 2 of Article 18 to read: “The design of occupational disease prevention facilities for construction projects shall comply with **occupational health standards and health requirements” ； Among them, the design of protective facilities for construction projects in medical institutions that pose serious risks of occupational radiation diseases must be approved by the health administration department before work can commence. ” Paragraph 3 is revised to read: “Before the completion acceptance of a construction project, the project owner shall conduct an evaluation of the effectiveness of controls against occupational disease hazards.” ” Add a new clause as the fourth one: \"When conducting the completion inspection of construction projects in medical institutions that may pose risks of occupational radiation diseases, such facilities for protecting against occupational radiation diseases must pass the inspection by the health administration authorities before they can be put into use.\" ； The occupational disease prevention facilities for other construction projects shall be subject to acceptance in accordance with the law by the project owner; only after successful acceptance can they be put into production and use. The work safety supervision and management department shall strengthen the supervision and verification of the acceptance activities organized by the construction unit as well as the results of such acceptances. ” 3. Delete Article 19. 4. Article 68 is renumbered as Article 67, and the phrase “work safety supervision and management department” therein is amended to “health administrative department and work safety supervision and management department”. 5. Article 70 is renumbered as Article 69, and is amended to read: “If a construction unit violates the provisions of this Law and commits one of the following acts, the work safety supervision and management department and the health administration department shall, in accordance with their respective responsibilities, issue a warning and order it to make corrections within a specified time limit.” ； If the violation is not corrected within the prescribed time, a fine of not less than 100,000 yuan but not more than 500,000 yuan shall be imposed ； In serious cases, an order shall be issued to cease the operations that cause occupational disease hazards, or the relevant people’s court shall be requested to order the suspension of construction or closure in accordance with the authorities stipulated by the State Council: \"(1) Failing to conduct a pre-assessment of occupational disease hazards as required\" ； “(II) For construction projects in medical institutions that may pose risks of radiation-related occupational diseases, the pre-assessment report on such risks has not been submitted as required, or the pre-assessment report has not been approved by the health administrative department before work commences ； “(III) The occupational disease prevention facilities for the construction project were not designed, constructed, and put into operation simultaneously with the main project as required ； “(IV) The design of the occupational disease prevention facilities for construction projects does not comply with **occupational health standards and requirements; or in the case of construction projects in medical institutions where there is a serious risk of radiation-related occupational diseases, the construction of such prevention facilities is carried out without the approval of the health authorities ； “(5) Failing to conduct an evaluation of the effectiveness of occupational disease hazard control measures for occupational disease prevention facilities as required ； “(VI) Before a construction project is completed and put into production or use, the occupational disease prevention facilities have not been approved for compliance with relevant regulations. ” 6. Delete Article 84.