The minimum service life of desks and chairs for use in central government offices has been set at 15 years, while the price of laptops for on-the-job use has been capped at 7,000 yuan ($1,064), according to a more stringent standard for government purchases released Monday.
The new standard, which was posted on the official website of the Ministry of Finance, set maximum item numbers, price ceilings, minimum service life and performance requirements for equipment and furniture purchased for use in government offices.
Items listed include computers, printers, photocopiers, scanners, desks, chairs, sofas, coffee tables and filing cabinets.
The new requirements are significantly more stringent than previous ones, setting lower price ceilings and laying out more specific rules, financial news site yicai.com reported.
For example, the vague term "long service life" used in the previous standard has been replaced with a specific minimum service term of at least 15 years for desks and chairs.
The desks of grass-roots officials should be purchased for 3,000 yuan or less, while their chairs should be bought for no more than 800 yuan.
When purchasing office equipment, priority is given to factors like safety, stability, compatibility, low energy consumption and maintenance-friendliness, while high-end equipment is now off-limits.
In addition, luxurious furniture and pieces made of valuable woods have been firmly banned.
In 2012, the National Audit Office found that at least one ministry failed to follow rules on government purchases.
According to yicai.com, that ministry took the liberty of buying elevators and office furniture worth some 37.7 million yuan.
