All Shanghai's restaurants with more than 75 seats or at least 150 square meters of business area will have to install toilets for customers by early next year in order to receive a new hygiene certificate.

Smaller eateries, fast food outlets and snack stores must provide customers with washing facilities, said officials from the Shanghai Food and Drug Administration.

Eateries will update their hygiene certificates from this week until April 30 next year.

All eateries must hang the new certificates in their stores by May 1 next year. Those without certificates will be forced to shut down.

"The rules on toilet and washing facility requirement are for customers' health. Previously, there was no special regulation. The national health authorities issued this new requirement this year to protect eaters' health," said Gu Zhenhua, vice director of the SFDA's food safety department.

"Restaurants locating inside department stores or office buildings will be allowed to share public toilets with the building," Gu said.

Restaurant managers said they will follow the rule, and many have already installed sanitary equipment. "We have a toilet for customers. What's more, we also offer disinfecting lotion for hand-washing," said Gu Danying from Wuyue Renjia, a noodle shop with 75 seats.

Shanghai Lisheng Restaurant, a store with fewer than 75 seats, also provides a toilet for customers, saying it is a necessary service.

"We don't have a special toilet for consumers due to our small location. They can use the toilet in a nearby department store," said Wen Liangyu, manager of Xiaonanmen, a snack shop on Wujiang Road. "But we will rearrange the business area and manage to equip a washing basin, if the government asks us to do so to get a new license."

Local residents think highly of the new rule, claiming a toilet and washing facilities are extremely important and convenient for customers.

"Though it is an order from the government, I hope restaurants can do it well. The toilet should be clean and there should be soap beside the basin," said Sun Weimao, while he was dining yesterday at Xiaonanmen.

In addition to the toilet and washing facilities, customers said they are more concerned about hygiene in the kitchen and the quality of food.

"The whole process of material purchase, cooking and restaurant service should be regulated," said He Shijie, while eating at Lisheng.

(Shanghai Daily August 17, 2005)