The State Duma wants to strengthen responsibility for poisoning in children's camps

The State Duma (State Duma) wants to strengthen responsibility for poisoning in children's camps in connection with numerous violations of sanitary standards that have occurred in places for children's recreation over the past few years. As Izvestia found out, a corresponding bill will be submitted to the State Duma on June 20.

Its authors are the head of the Fair Russia – For Truth faction, Sergey Mironov, and the head of the State Duma Committee on the Development of Civil Society, Issues of public and religious associations, Yana Lantratova.

According to the authors, the introduction of the bill is due to numerous violations of sanitary standards that have occurred in children's camps over the past few years.

"The geography of the incidents covers the whole of Russia. Moreover, they are associated not only with poor nutrition or the use of substandard products. Many parents often complain about the poor water quality in health camps. They are also not satisfied with the low qualifications of employees who do not even think about observing sanitary standards," Mironov explained.

According to him, sometimes in some health camps, administrations do not organize medical examinations of children upon arrival, which later leads to epidemics. The politician stressed that it is necessary to increase the number of inspections by Rospotrebnadzor and check the camps "once before the start of the summer holidays and then at least twice per shift."

The authors of the bill propose to increase penalties for violations of sanitary standards in children's camps. For example, for legal entities, the minimum sanctions are proposed to be set at the level of 50 thousand to 150 thousand rubles (currently from 30 thousand to 70 thousand rubles). If the camp administration does not eliminate the violations identified by the Rospotrebnadzor inspection in time, the fine should be increased to 200,000 — 500,000 rubles.

The maximum penalties from one million to two million rubles are provided for causing serious harm to human health if the violation does not contain a criminal offense. Another set of amendments concerns the amendment of the Criminal Code. These are fines for legal entities from 500 thousand to 5 million rubles, and if a violation of sanitary standards led to the death of a child due to negligence, the perpetrators are proposed to be sent to prison for a period of four to six years. If there are two or more children, then for a period of seven to 10 years.

"There is nothing more important than the health and safety of children. However, today practice shows that the current measures of responsibility for such violations are insufficient. Our bill provides for a serious increase in fines and other types of punishment for those who, through negligence or irresponsibility, endanger the life and health of children," Lantratova explained.

According to her, if violation of sanitary standards leads to massive diseases among minors, the fine will range from 700 thousand to 1 million rubles. And if this leads to the death of the child, the amount increases to 5 million rubles. In case of death of two or more minors, imprisonment for up to 10 years is provided.

On June 5, Rospotrebnadzor announced the hospitalization of eight children who were taken off the Yekaterinburg— Anapa train. On the same day, it became known that the number of victims increased by 14 people. All of them were supposed to rest at the Pearl of Russia camp.

Later, on June 7, the press service of the regional investigative department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation reported the poisoning of at least 11 children aged seven to 14 in the Orlyonok camp in the Kalachinsky district of the Omsk region. A criminal case was opened into the incident in accordance with Article 238 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Production, storage, transportation or sale of goods and products, performance of work or provision of services that do not meet safety requirements").