The Ministry of Emergency Management ("MEM") has recently issued the Circular on Piloting the Notification and Commitment Mechanism for Fire Safety in Assembly Occupancies to Be Put into Use or Operation in Pilot Free Trade Zones (the "Circular").
According to the Circular, from December 1, 2019, the notification and commitment mechanism for fire safety in assembly occupancies to be put into use or operation is practiced on a pilot basis in pilot free trade zones (FTZs). Further, the Circular requires a correct understanding of the notification and commitment mechanism, standardization of the notification and commitment procedures, and earnest efforts to ensure implementation of the relevant work. Among others, the Circular expressly states that the previous process under which certificates will not be issued until necessary inspections have been completed, will be reversed to issue certificates first and then perform inspections. The entity constructing or using an assembly occupancy shall file an application for a fire safety certificate to put it into use or operation, with the fire rescue agency of the people's government above the county level of the place where the assembly occupancy is located, and the fire rescue agency shall notify the entity on a one-time basis of the application conditions and all necessary documents; if the applicant undertakes that it has met all fire safety standards and provides all required documents, the fire rescue agency will no longer perform substantial reviews of such documents and make the administrative licensing decisions immediately on the spot.