The Ministry of Commerce in China has ordered all public bath houses to make their premises more accessible to public inspections to counter a growing sex trade in the country.

Releasing a set of draft rules on Thursday, the ministry said bath houses with massage rooms needed to be viewed openly from the outside. It also said that foot massage parlors must have their cubicle doors unlocked when attending clients.

Commerce and health authorities are determined to combat the spread of sexually transmitted diseases in public places. The draft rules have been posted on the ministry's website to solicit public opinion before September 10, reports The China Daily.

Earlier last month, commerce and health authorities had ordered all hotels, resorts and public bath houses in the country to provide condom-dispensing machines.

Some cities have already taken the lead in cracking down on the sex trade. Shanghai introduced regulations last year requiring all bath houses and hair dressing saloons to have clear glass windows. The eastern province of Zhejiang passed a regulation in March requiring all hotels and bars to install condom-dispensing machines.

The new draft rules also stipulate that towels, slippers and teacups, should be sanitized after use.

Water in bathing pools should also be refreshed at least twice a day.

These new rules tighten existing ones, which are now outdated, the ministry of commerce said.

Bath houses and massage parlors will be ranked every two years on their standards, those failing will be ordered to shut down.

Source-ANI
SRM/C