China (Hubei) Pilot Free Trade Zone---Yichang Area (hereinafter referred to as Yichang FTZ) is the first to adopt the Public Information System on QR Codein Hubei Province. As soon as you scan the QR code of theenterprises, theinformation concerning their environment protection willappearinstantly. Up to now, more than 220 enterprises with bad environmentalhistoryhave been required to adopt this QR Code system to receive supervision from thepublic.

　　Wu E’fei, the chief of Emergency and Complains Section in Yichang Ecology and Environment Bureau,introduced that the first phase of the function has been launched. The QR Code of therelated enterprise’ environmental information is posted in front of entrancegate, explosion exit and hazardous waste storage chamber. Citizens can check the information of enterprisesin real time, including environmental protection, online monitoring of waste gas and water, hazardous waste management, radioactive source management, environment risk and emergency management in real time.

　　Tian Song, the director of Environment and Health Department in Yichang Humanwell Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., said: “In the past, the environmental information would be posted on bulletin board or LED board, which needs to be manuallyupdated periodically. It also had to print a lot of hard-copy materials during inspections.The convenience of ‘Environmental Protection Information in One Code’ is obvious.”

　　The “Environmental Protection Information in One Code”will save the cost about 20,000 Yuan in constructingbulletin board, LED board and statistical analysis of data whilecitizens and cooperatorsof enterprises can check pollution discharge information, which will strengthen the public supervision of enterprisesin ecological protection.

　　To ensure its authority, the information provided by theQR Code directly comes fromthe environmental protection departments, Wu E’fei said. Enterprises planning to invest in the Yichang FTZ could apply for their own QR Code from the departments, which couldfully understand the environmental protection requirements and infrastructure conditions of the investment area, provide reference for project investment, planning, and construction to reduce investment risks.

　　“Gettingto know the environmental protection information via scanning QR codenot only strengthensthe primary responsibility of enterprises, but also provides a new platform of public supervision and management. What’s more, administrative departments in charge of the industry willabide by the contract spirit of ‘Responses in time’in their inspection”, theoffice head of leading group in improving the business environment said. (Reporter Tian Xiaochun;correspondent Xu Jiafeng)