China has issued a set of regulations on the safety of radioactive isotope and radiation devices, which require immediate and accurate report of any radiation-related accidents.

The people who are responsible for the accidents will face administrative punishment or be brought to court, according to the regulations, which take effect on Dec. 1 this year.

According to the rules, a radiation-related accident shall be identified when a radioactive source is lost, stolen or out of control, or people sustain abnormal irradiation by accident when a radioactive isotope and radiation device goes out of control.

When such an accident takes place, all the unites engaged in the production, sales and use of radioactive isotope and radiation devices shall take immediate measures according to their emergency plan and report the accident to the local environmental protection, public security and health departments without delay.

These departments, upon receiving the report, shall immediately send people to the scene for on-the-spot investigations and measures to control the effect of the accident, while at the same time reporting it to the local government and their immediate higher authorities.

Major accident of this kind shall be reported to the State Council within four hours, according to the regulations.

Any people who are found to act slowly in making the report, hide the truth, make false report or fail to report shall also be given administrative punishment or be punished by law.

(Xinhua News Agency October 5, 2005)