(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-11-13 15:29

A man loads goods from a cart to his bicycle after shopping at a Carrefour hypermarket in Beijing, September 17, 2007. [Agencies]

China has banned time-limited sales promotions in retail outlets following a stampede at a Carrefour supermarket that killed three and injured 31, a government circular said.

The Ministry of Commerce ordered local authorities across China to overhaul safety requirements in shops to prevent similar occurences, said a statement dated Monday on its website.

"In order to eliminate safety concerns, companies are required not to organise time-limited sales promotions which may lead to traffic congestion, bodily harm and disorderly conduct," it said.

In the Saturday stampede in southwestern Chongqing Municipality, victims were crushed as bargain-hunters rushed to get into the French supermarket for a tenth anniversary sale.

Local officials immediately closed the store and began an investigation.

Carrefour could not be immediately contacted for comment.