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Authorities in the Chinese capital 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 and cleaning litter bins.

Toilets in places such as tourist spots must comply with the new standards.

But it is not clear whether failing washrooms will be punished and if so, how.

The new rules also cover cleaning, the use of equipment and training for attendants.

There is an ordinance covering what is referred to as "discarded items" - there should be no more than two in any public convenience.

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

They regulate advertisements displayed in toilets, saying they must not obstruct functionality and had to be legal, <link> <caption>reports the Beijing Times</caption> <url href="http://epaper.jinghua.cn/html/2012-05/23/content_792343.htm" platform="highweb"/> </link> .

Beijing's Municipal Commission of City Administration and Environment <link> <caption>said in a statement</caption> <url href="http://www.bjmac.gov.cn/pub/guanwei/A/A1/201205/t20120521_25767.html" platform="highweb"/> </link> that 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.

However media reports cast doubt over whether the guidelines could be enforced.

<link> <caption>A commentary published in the Beijing News</caption> <url href="http://www.bjnews.com.cn/opinion/2012/05/23/200612.html" platform="highweb"/> </link> said one central Beijing district implemented a similar rule in 2008 when the city hosted the Olympic Games, but sanitation and hygiene still varied from toilet to toilet.

Effort should be invested on educating the public to use public toilets in a better manner, said the commentary.