Beijing limits flies in public toilets

Officials in Beijing have set new standards for public toilets - including a stipulation that they should contain no more than two flies.

The new rules, published by the commission of city administration, also set standards on odour, reports the BBC.

They also cover cleaning and training for attendants - but it is not clear if or how failing toilets will be punished.

The new standards also require signs in both Chinese and English to be installed in the toilets.

And they regulate adverts in toilets, saying they must not obstruct functionality and had to be legal, reports the Beijing Times.

Beijing's Municipal Commission of City Administration and Environment said the regulations aimed to standardise toilet management at places such as parks, railway stations, hospitals and shopping malls.

An unnamed official from the commission told local media that the guidelines on flies were meant for easy monitoring.