CHINA HAS STRENGTHENED ITS MANAGEMENT OVER EXPORTS OF BIOLOGICAL AGENTS THAT COULD HAVE MILITARY USES IN RESPONSE TO INTERNATIONAL THREATS OF TERRORISM AND PROLIFERATION, REUTERS QUOTED A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FOREIGN MINISTRY AS SAYING FRIDAY. FOURTEEN TYPES OF VIRUSES, TOXINS, GERMS AND RELATED ITEMS, INCLUDING THE SARS VIRUS, WERE ADDED TO 2002 REGULATIONS ON "DUAL USE BIOLOGICAL AGENTS AND RELATED EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGIES". "THIS IS AN IMPORTANT AND PRACTICAL MOVE OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUOUSLY STRENGTHEN PREVENTION OF PROLIFERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF EXPORTS," SPOKESMAN LIU JIANCHAO SAID IN A STATEMENT ON THE FOREIGN MINISTRY'S WEB SITE (WWW.FMPRC.GOV.CN). CHINA BLAMED A 2004 RESURGENCE OF SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME ON A LABORATORY LEAK. IT HAS ALSO BEEN CRITICISED FOR ITS LACK OF ABILITY TO ENFORCE EXPORT CONTROLS ON TECHNOLOGY USED TO PRODUCE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND STOP PROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS TO COUNTRIES SUCH AS IRAN, WHICH IS UNDER INTERNATIONAL SCRUTINY OVER ITS ATOMIC PROGRAMMES. THE UNITED STATES HAS SEVERAL TIMES IMPOSED SANCTIONS AGAINST CHINESE COMPANIES FOR ALLEGED PROLIFERATION, PUNISHMENTS CHINA HAS SAID WERE NOT BACKED BY EVIDENCE.