Beijing promotes ‘toilet revolution’ in 5,000 restaurants

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Beijing has issued new guidelines for restaurant toilets, to improve sanitary conditions in 5,000 of the city's eateries this year, Beijing Youth Daily reported on Friday.

The guidelines, released by the municipal food and drug administration on Thursday, list more than 40 rules to do with facilities, cleaning and disinfection habits.

Restaurant staff must check sanitary conditions every hour and every 15 minutes during meal times. All toilets should be disinfected at least once a day, and other facilities such as faucets, sinks, handrails, hand dryers and air vents should be disinfected at least four times a day.

Beijing promotes ‘toilet revolution’ in 5,000 restaurants. /VCG Photo

The guidelines prohibit restaurants from using personalized toilet signs that are difficult to identify. Restaurant toilets should also have partitions, mirrors and disposable toilet seat covers.

"The guideline marks the beginning of a 'toilet revolution' in Beijing restaurants," said Duan Zhiyong, an administration official.

In 2015, China launched a nationwide toilet revolution to make public toilets cleaner and more regulated. Chinese leaders called for continued efforts to upgrade the country's toilets.

According to Duan, the guidelines will be promoted in Beijing's public food service sector, with 5,000 restaurants expected to improve their toilet environment and services by the end of the year.

The 5,000 restaurants are just a "first batch" to be subject to the new guidelines, with arguably more to follow in the future.

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Source(s): Xinhua News Agency