Delegates before the opening ceremony of 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Nov. 2012. (Photo : Reuters)
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress has received a total of 26 laws scheduled for amendment, aimed at streamlining government management and assigning powers to lower level governments, the Beijing Times reported.
The bill of amendments to the 26 laws was heard on April 20, Monday, which included laws related to education, railway, tax, drug administration, postal service, tobacco monopoly and pollution.
The report said that the proposed amendments would help cut down red tape in the bureaucracy as well as give local level governments more power over the approval of certain documents and requirements.
The Beijing Times reported that the bill was submitted to the bimonthly legislative session of the said committee, which runs from Monday to Friday.
The report said that one amendment proposes that taxpayers no longer "make a written application" and "get approval from examining authority" before they get tax reductions or exemptions.
The bill would also eliminate administrative approval for qualifications of insurance brokers, insurance salespersons, urban and rural planners, and special equipment inspectors. Drug producers, however, need to get their certifications from provincial drug supervisors, the report added.
According to the proposed amendments, competitive prices for drugs, railways and postal services will be allowed, and both the government and market will determine the prices of drugs, railway tickets, parcel freight and postal fees.
"Price administrative departments of the State Council will make supervising regulations, increase supervision over prices, and deal with violators," Song Dahan, director of the legislative affairs office of the State Council, China's cabinet, was quoted as saying.
