China will ban the air-freighting of dangerous goods to Olympic host cities during the Games, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said.

Airlines will be prohibited from carrying explosives for civil use, guns and ammunition to the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenyang, Qinhuangdao and Qingdao from July 1 to Sep. 30, the administration said in a statement on its website.

Other hazardous materials, with the exception of some items for public health and medical uses, would also be banned, it said.

Flights carrying high-risk chemicals, such as poisonous gas and radioactive substances, to other cities must be inspected and authorized by the administration. Those with dangerous goods that are urgently needed by the state or in disaster relief work must go through the same process and be recorded, said the statement.

The government has enacted a slew of measures this year to ensure aviation safety ahead of the Olympics, banning lighters and matches from carry-on luggage and telling passengers to remove their shoes for security checks.

From May 1, the administration stepped up pre-flight data reporting for passengers and crews on international flights and limited the number of cabin baggage articles.

(Xinhua News Agency June 17, 2008)