Politics
Court Remands Two Activists for 30 Days in 2024 Oil-Field Case
Published: 2026-08-19
A court in Dornod province ordered G. Solongo and G. Adilbish held for 30 days in connection with a 2024 case involving protests against PetroChina Daqing Tamsag LLC, a Chinese-owned oil company operating in Matad and Khalkhgol soums. The court’s decisions concern allegations that the activists disrupted operations, confronted security staff and contractor employees, entered company premises, and injured one person; the allegations have not been adjudicated. Adilbish was initially released after a 48-hour urgent detention period expired, before the court later considered the prosecutor’s request for remand. The reported grounds included failure to comply with an earlier preventive measure and failure to appear when summoned. Separately, police in Sukhbaatar province are investigating alleged rights violations involving Chinese citizens conducting oil exploration there.
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Published: 2026-08-19
The Anti-Corruption Agency has completed an investigation into J. Enkhjargalan, a representative of the Ulaanbaatar Citizens’ Representatives Khural, and referred the case to prosecutors with a recommendation that it proceed to court. Investigators allege that while serving as executive director of Central Stadium LLC in 2024 and 2025, he exercised authority not assigned to him, made appointments in others’ names, and approved unlawful cash bonuses. The agency also alleges he created economic advantages without formal decisions, transferring MNT 222.8 million to a named company without establishing an evaluation committee or conducting competitive selection. It further found that MNT 42.6 million in expenses for an affiliated legal entity were paid from a state-owned enterprise’s budget, causing losses to the state. The case is classified as abuse of official authority.
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Finance Ministry State Secretary B. Anar to Be Replaced by Acting Official
Published: 2026-08-19
The government is expected to formalize the release of Finance Ministry State Secretary B. Anar and appoint M. Sanjaadorj as acting state secretary, according to a report published August 19. Sanjaadorj had been serving as director of the ministry’s Budget Policy and Planning Department. Anar was appointed state secretary in May after working as an adviser to Prime Minister N. Uchral, meaning his departure follows about three months in the post. The matter was scheduled for discussion at the day’s cabinet meeting. The report did not state a reason for Anar’s release or indicate whether a permanent appointment process would follow.
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Economy
Fuel Deliveries Rise as Authorities Target Withheld Stocks
Published: 2026-08-19
The emergency task force overseeing petroleum supply said deliveries increased on August 19 while it worked to reduce queues at filling stations. In the previous 24 hours, 76 rail tank cars carrying 4,560 tonnes of gasoline arrived; 1,950 tonnes went to 218 stations in Ulaanbaatar and 600 tonnes to 56 stations in provincial areas. Nationwide arrivals this month include 500 rail cars of AI-92 gasoline and 1,314 cars of diesel, while 74 additional cars of AI-92 from Russia and 80 from China are being imported. Officials said inspections found businesses holding stocks without distributing fuel. Importers were warned that deliberate shortages could bring legal measures, while businesses failing to meet contractual obligations could face licence revocation. The task force will focus on soums later this week, where shortages have persisted.
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State Budget Deficit Reaches MNT 2.2 Trillion in Seven Months
Published: 2026-08-19
Mongolia’s consolidated state budget recorded a deficit of MNT 2.2 trillion in the first seven months of 2026, according to the budget figures reviewed by Urug. Total revenue reached MNT 19.8 trillion, up 19.6% year on year, while balanced revenue was MNT 17.3 trillion, an 11% increase. Expenditure and net lending rose 15.5% to MNT 19.5 trillion, increasing by MNT 2.6 trillion from a year earlier. Tax revenue totalled MNT 16 trillion, up MNT 1.5 trillion, led by increases in social-insurance revenue, value-added tax and personal income tax. Goods and services spending rose by MNT 1.1 trillion, capital expenditure by MNT 858.8 billion, and current transfers by MNT 551 billion. Local budgets also recorded a MNT 129.2 billion deficit, with spending rising 20%.
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AI-92 Gasoline Prices Rise 6.4 Percent in Provincial Markets
Published: 2026-08-19
National Statistics Office data as of August 17 show average prices for major consumer goods in Ulaanbaatar fell 1.6 percent from the previous week and 3.5 percent from the previous month. Bone-in mutton fell from MNT 27,063 to MNT 26,152 per kilogram; beef prices also declined, with bone-in beef at MNT 31,680 per kilogram. Domestic potatoes dropped 10.6 percent to MNT 2,577 per kilogram, while prices for other key goods were broadly unchanged. Provincial markets recorded mixed movements: flour, sugar, rice, diesel and AI-92 gasoline rose, while meat and milk edged down. Diesel increased by 0.6 per liter, while AI-92 rose 6.4 percent per liter.
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Unemployment Rises by 13,400 in First Seven Months
Published: 2026-08-19
Mongolia’s unemployment increased by 13,400 year on year during the first seven months of 2026, while the number of people classified as potential labour force rose by 25,900, according to figures released by the National Statistics Office. The employment rate was 58.1 percent in the second quarter, down one percentage point from a year earlier, and labour-force participation fell 0.4 points to 61.5 percent. Of the 1.4 million people aged 15 and over in the labour force, 79,300 were unemployed. Services accounted for 52.3 percent of employment, followed by industry and construction at 24 percent and agriculture at 23.7 percent. Retail and vehicle services, education, construction, mining and manufacturing were the largest employing subsectors.
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Copper Price Climbs Above January Record
Published: 2026-08-19
Spot copper on the London Metal Exchange rose 1.2% on Monday to US$14,310 per tonne, surpassing the record price set in January, the report said. LME copper inventories have fallen by about half since May to below 210,000 tonnes. Traders have increased copper purchases amid concern that the United States could impose tariffs on processed metals, reducing supply in other markets. Copper prices have risen by an average of 16% since the start of 2026. Longer-term demand is expected to be supported by clean energy, electricity networks and artificial-intelligence infrastructure, which require copper. As inventories continue to decline, the market is watching whether China can provide additional supply.
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FTI ETF Opens Access to More Than 800 Global Companies on Mongolian Exchange
Published: 2026-08-19
BGM Asset Management launched secondary-market trading of its Future Tech Innovation, or FTI, exchange-traded fund on the Mongolian Stock Exchange on August 19. The fund allows investors to buy units through licensed securities firms and broker applications, with one unit priced at MNT 1,000. Its portfolio provides exposure to more than 800 companies across 11 sectors through 17 international ETFs. According to the launch information, 50 percent is allocated to technology and artificial-intelligence companies, 30 percent to major US companies, 10 percent to leading global copper miners and 10 percent to large energy companies. BGM Asset Management, established in 2022 with TESO Group investment, manages about MNT 80 billion in assets. Golomt Capital, TDB Securities, Apex Capital and Tavanbogd Capital participated in bringing the fund to market.
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Izvestia Study Finds Sharply Reduced Fuel Availability at Russian Stations
Published: 2026-08-19
An Izvestia study found that, as of August 16, only 28% of Russian fuel stations listed on the GdeBenz app were dispensing gasoline and diesel, down from 41% a week earlier. Availability reportedly declined in Volgograd, Chelyabinsk, Orenburg, Voronezh, Samara, Penza, Saratov, Lipetsk, Rostov and Tatarstan, while shortages and long queues were reported in at least 20 regions. Izvestia journalists checking stations in Moscow and the surrounding region found limited availability of AI-92, AI-95, AI-98 and diesel. An RBC reporter said only two of 10 stations visited in Moscow were operating. Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev said fuel was available at all Russian stations and the government was addressing queues. The report links the disruption to attacks on major Russian oil refineries.
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Diplomacy
Officials Discuss Fuel Supply and Oil Exploration Cooperation with China
Published: 2026-08-19
State Secretary B. Dashpurev of the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources met Cao Li, chargé d’affaires at the Chinese Embassy, and Commercial Counsellor Liu Jinzi to discuss fuel supplies and oil-exploration cooperation. The Chinese side said it was prioritising prompt contractual fuel deliveries and would continue supplies under existing agreements. Mongolia asked the Chinese side to convey its request for a permanent import quota for all types of fuel to the relevant authorities, reflecting its interest in regular purchases. The officials also discussed an incident in Sukhbaatar province involving alleged violations of the rights of Chinese citizens conducting oil exploration. Dashpurev said the ministry had referred the matter to law-enforcement bodies and expressed regret over the incident. The ministry plans a public-information campaign with exploration companies on the purpose and importance of exploration work.
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Infrastructure
Odd-Even Traffic Rule Begins as School Preparations and COP17 Coincide
Published: 2026-08-19
Ulaanbaatar has begun temporary traffic controls because preparations for the school year coincide with the international COP17 conference, with congestion anticipated. From August 15 through September 14, vehicles may travel according to whether the final digit of their registration plate is odd or even. Roads in specified parts of Bayanzurkh district are also subject to partial restrictions until the conference ends. Ch. Khuvitsayaa, head of the Traffic Management Center, said an average of 645,784 vehicles travelled daily during the first two days of restrictions, including 479,998 between 7 am and 9 pm. Conference guests and delegates are using public transport, with transport services operating from 7 am to return them to hotels by 9 pm. Police and traffic officials are enforcing the measures through roadside checks and intersection cameras, including checks for counterfeit number plates.
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Government Moves Refinery Project Toward Industrial Park Status
Published: 2026-08-19
The government has formalized a decision to place the oil refinery under construction in Altanshiree soum, Dornogovi province, under Internal Troops protection. The protection will cover the refinery site, water-supply facilities and the oil-pipeline complex. At the same meeting, the government decided to convert the refinery into an industrial and technology park and instructed Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources G. Damdinyam and other officials to implement the decision. Project management had raised concerns that land and property taxes could delay construction, halt financing and increase tax liabilities. Industrial park status would make the project eligible for a 10-year land-fee exemption, a five-year property-tax exemption, extensions of up to four years for customs duty and VAT on unavailable imported materials and equipment, and exemption from foreign-worker job fees. Further assessments and permits remain to be completed.
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Work Begins on Khovd Coal Road Designed to Add 10 Million Tonnes of Annual Exports
Published: 2026-08-19
Construction has begun on a 95-kilometre paved road linking the Khoshoot mine, Bulgan border crossing and Baitag Bogd in Khovd province. The MNT 247 billion route is intended for coal transport and is scheduled to enter service in September 2028. Mongolia’s GTSE LLC and China’s Chen Yun Haina LLC of Xinjiang’s Changji Prefecture will finance and build the project, according to the report. The road is designed to create capacity to increase annual coal exports by 10 million tonnes; that increase has not yet occurred. GTSE signed the relevant agreement in August 2025 and began preparations for the heavy-haul road. Under the agreement, the developers will operate the route for 30 years after completion, a Transport Ministry official said.
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Deputy Prime Minister Urges Provinces to Draw More on Private Investment
Published: 2026-08-19
Deputy Prime Minister N. Nomtoibayar instructed provincial governors to seek local resources and private-sector participation rather than rely on the state budget for every unresolved project. In an August 19 online meeting on winter preparedness and urgent regional needs, officials said provinces had submitted 205 proposed projects and measures, including 48 energy, heating and engineering-network projects proposed for the 2027 budget. Issues raised included debt and boiler capacity at Bulgan’s thermal power plant, road financing in Dornod, and MNT 3.2 billion needed to complete a 100-bed children’s hospital in Khuvsgul. Nomtoibayar said Selenge, Sukhbaatar and Govi-Altai offered examples of using their own resources, and urged governors to consider management contracts with private companies for unfinished sports complexes and swimming pools.
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Tuul Expressway Remains Suspended as Procurement Investigation Continues
Published: 2026-08-19
The Tuul Expressway project remains temporarily suspended pending a final court decision and an investigation by a joint task force of the General Intelligence Agency, Anti-Corruption Agency and National Police Agency. Ulaanbaatar Mayor B. Purevdavga said the city had negotiated with the contractor to move away from an arbitration risk and was awaiting the court’s decision. The National Audit Office said the project cost rose from MNT 916.3 billion in 2024 to MNT 1.9 trillion at tender stage in 2025 and then MNT 2.3 trillion. A Finance Ministry review concluded that the consortium’s legal representation, licences, tax documentation, financial capacity and evidence of similar-project experience did not fully meet tender requirements. The report also says MNT 500 billion had been paid in advance and cites missing environmental and water-use approvals among concerns.
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Society
Police Detain Four Over Alleged Attack at Oil Exploration Camp
Published: 2026-08-19
Police are investigating an August 14-15 incident involving a temporary camp operated by Mongolia Foyson Energy, a foreign-invested oil exploration company. The company began exploration on July 4 under rights granted by a November 21, 2024 government resolution covering areas in Dornod and Sukhbaatar provinces. Police said named individuals entered the company’s camp and equipment area without authorization, filmed there and caused a confrontation after alleging that unauthorized oil extraction was planned. One police account describes the camp entry as occurring in Dornod and Sukhbaatar provincial territory, while other reports place the temporary camp in Sukhbaatar province. Four people were detained for 48 hours and formally charged as accused persons under unspecified Criminal Code provisions. A court ordered one person held for 30 days on August 18, while decisions on preventive measures for the other three were pending. Police have opened an internal review of officers’ response.
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Police to Brief on Alleged Fatal Vehicle Incident in Bayankhongor
Published: 2026-08-19
Police said they had begun investigating online reports that foreign nationals described as Arab may have fatally struck a Mongolian man with a vehicle at the Bayanburd brigade area of Buutsagaan soum, Bayankhongor province, in front of his son. The report remains an allegation, and the source did not identify the people involved, the nationality of the foreign nationals, the date of the incident, or any confirmed findings. Police scheduled a briefing for 11:30 a.m. on August 19 to provide information on this investigation. The same briefing was also expected to address separate ongoing cases concerning foreign nationals allegedly catching falcons in Tov province and opposition by named people to petroleum exploration in Sukhbaatar province. Authorities had not announced outcomes in any of the cases.
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Police Detain M. Dadelkhan’s Wife in Connection with 10-Year-Old Girl’s Case
Published: 2026-08-19
Police have detained the wife of M. Dadelkhan in connection with the death of a 10-year-old girl who disappeared from Norjinkhairkhan bagh in Buyant soum after leaving home on August 1 to help a neighbouring family harvest watermelons. More than 70 police, emergency, forensic and family personnel searched for 14 days before finding her body in a neighbouring watermelon field. Her neighbour M. Dadelkhan and his son were already in custody. Reports say Dadelkhan told investigators the girl died after falling from a tractor, then later said he had run her over; investigators have not established the circumstances or any suspect’s guilt. Authorities said the case has been transferred to Ulaanbaatar for investigation, while an autopsy result remains pending.
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Police Warn After 112 People Lose Money Through Fake Survey Links
Published: 2026-08-19
Police recorded 112 people who lost money in August after accessing fraudulent links labeled as surveys. Police warned the public not to provide bank login names, passwords or one-time verification codes on sites promising rewards. They also advised people not to enter advertisements that promise rewards under any circumstances. The warning followed reports of people being defrauded after opening the fake survey links. The source did not provide the total amount lost, identify those responsible, or specify how the links were distributed. The alert focuses on avoiding reward-promising sites and advertisements and protecting bank login information, passwords and OTP codes from fraudsters.
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Free Buses Will Run From Sukhbaatar Square to Nomad Festival
Published: 2026-08-19
The Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth will provide free buses from Sukhbaatar Square to the Nomad World Culture Festival during August 21-23, 2026. Service will run between 07:00 and 21:30 each day. On August 21, buses will depart at 25-minute intervals. On August 22 and 23, departures will be every 18 minutes, increasing the frequency on the final two festival days. The ministry announced the timetable for travel from the square to the festival, with no fare charged for the service. The arrangement gives attendees a scheduled public-transport option throughout the festival’s three days. The published timetable sets one operating window for each day but different departure intervals for August 21 and for August 22-23.
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Environment
Heavy Rain Warning Issued for Bulgan, Orkhon, Selenge and Darkhan-Uul
Published: 2026-08-19
The National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring warned of heavy rain in Bulgan, Orkhon, Selenge and Darkhan-Uul provinces on August 19. Most central provinces and western parts of eastern provinces are also forecast to receive rain and thunderstorms, bringing risks of rising river levels, flooding, strong gusts, hail and lightning. Ulaanbaatar is forecast to have rain and thunderstorms, with winds shifting from the southeast to northwest at 4-9 metres per second and briefly strengthening before rainfall. Daytime temperatures in the capital are expected to reach 21-23C. Rain had begun in western Ulaanbaatar and was forecast to spread across the city within 30-60 minutes, continuing until 1 pm. Authorities advised travellers and drivers to avoid flood-prone areas and use designated bridges and crossings.
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COP17 Sessions Put Land Rights, Monitoring and Local Participation on the Agenda
Published: 2026-08-19
UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar continued on its third day, designated People-Centered Day in the Green Zone. Sessions focused on land governance, rights and policy; civil society and inclusive governance; gender equality and women’s land rights; community-led restoration; science and capacity; youth leadership; women farmers; and traditional knowledge. A separate August 18 panel on climate change and digital monitoring discussed smarter agriculture, early warnings for sand and dust storms, and impact-based weather services. The Asian Development Bank presented a USD 1.9 million project to strengthen agricultural-meteorology capacity and climate adaptation, while the Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring Agency, WMO and FAO are preparing a USD 5 million proposal for the Adaptation Fund. Other discussions examined pasture carbon markets. A civil-society panel criticized the COP17 agenda for excluding gender, civil-society participation and coordination among the three Rio Conventions.
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Prosecutors Send 71 Illegal Mining Cases Involving 208 Defendants to Court
Published: 2026-08-19
Prosecutors had sent 71 cases involving 208 defendants to court by August under Article 24.2 of the Criminal Code, which covers illegal mineral exploration, use and extraction. Cases are concentrated in mineral-rich areas, with 14 indictments in Selenge, 13 in Govi-Altai, 12 in Umnugovi, eight in Bayankhongor and seven in Uvurkhangai. Courts have ruled on several cases, including unauthorized gold mining near a protected water zone in Khuder soum, Selenge, and unlicensed gold and fluorspar extraction in Yeruu soum and Airag soum. Penalties cited include fines, suspended sentences, compensation, recovery costs and confiscation of equipment, proceeds and gold. Separately, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources plans a joint inspection team with the environment ministry to investigate suspected illegal mining and environmental damage in Selenge.
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Police Investigate Falcon-Camp Dispute in Tuv Province
Published: 2026-08-19
Police say foreign nationals operating a falcon-catching camp in Tuv Province held valid permits under Government Resolution No. 263 of 2026. The resolution authorized 24 citizens of four foreign countries to catch 350 falcons in 11 provinces for special-purpose export this year, with permits also issued to establish camps. Local government working groups and authorized environmental officials are required to inspect the camps every three days and issue origin documentation for captured birds. Police opened an investigation under Article 13.6 of the Criminal Code after a foreign national complained that an individual identified as E. unlawfully entered a camp residence. Authorities are also reviewing a complaint alleging that the camp itself was established illegally and that falcons were caught without authorization.
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Innovation
Ulaanbaatar Registers 18,254 Children for Grade 1
Published: 2026-08-19
Electronic registration for Grade 1 at public general-education schools in Ulaanbaatar is open from August 17 through August 28 for the 2026-27 school year. As of August 19, 18,254 children had registered through E-Mongolia. Eligibility covers children born from January 1 through December 31, 2020; children born on or after January 1, 2021 will not be registered. School placement is based on the child’s registered residential address. Parents or guardians whose addresses conflict with the system must contact the enrollment committee at the local catchment school. Those unable to use the online service can visit a nearby public school for assistance with confirming or cancelling an application. Address transfers must be completed by 5 p.m. on August 24.
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Government Launches Model for Greener, Safer and Smarter Schools
Published: 2026-08-19
The government has approved a national model for greener, smarter, healthier and safer schools, with plans to reorganize 100 schools in the 2026-2027 academic year and budget for 100 new renewable-energy schools in 2027. Education Minister L. Enkh-Amgalan said the program will reduce crowding at more than 1,000 classes with over 45 students, with about 80% expected to move toward classes of 35 to 40. The model includes energy-efficient heating, renewable power, water reuse, internet access, AI-supported learning, health screening and improved child protection. A model school is scheduled to open in Chingeltei District on September 1. The ministry also aims to eliminate pit latrines at all schools and kindergartens by October 1, after upgrading sanitation systems in most targeted rural facilities.
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Government Backs Bill to Enable Commercial Use of Data
Published: 2026-08-19
The government has endorsed a draft primary Data Law and accompanying bills for submission to parliament, aiming to establish rules for sharing, integrating, improving, reusing and commercializing data across institutions and information systems. Existing digital-development legislation adopted in 2021 did not fully regulate those areas or investment in data infrastructure, according to the report. Prime Minister N. Uchral presented the proposal as part of a strategy to attract data-center investment by using the country’s land area, long cold season, solar and wind resources, while reducing reliance on mining and coal. He said the bill would support a shift toward a new economy rather than simply extend the existing extractive model.
“If we do not move toward a new economy, we cannot continue to speak about development while remaining dependent on mining and coal.” - N. Uchral (urug.mn)
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City Reports School-Year Projects, Repairs Due Before September 1
Published: 2026-08-19
Ulaanbaatar is carrying out 131 projects and activities ahead of the 2026-2027 school year, according to Deputy City Governor G. Jargalsaikhan, who oversees social affairs, green development, and air and environmental pollution. Authorities plan to submit 52 projects to the state acceptance commission for permanent operation this year, and 12 buildings and facilities have already been accepted for use. The city is undertaking 62 major-repair projects, now 75 percent complete, and the repairs are scheduled to finish before September 1. Under the School Near Home program, 41 khoroos submitted offers of rental premises; 17 could be rented, while five kindergartens may be converted into nearby schools. The city will add school-bus routes, and online registration for first graders continues.
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Published: 2026-08-19
The Ministry of Education has reminded state-owned schools that they are legally prohibited from introducing new uniform designs. State Secretary T. Nyam-Ochir said schools must require the nationally unified uniform design, and that polo shirts are part of the established uniform set. The ministry said local governments at aimag or district level cannot create separate designs and require children to buy them. Nyam-Ochir said complaints from parents and guardians include cases in which a district asks families to purchase a new uniform after they bought one last year. He said such requirements would place an additional burden on parents and could put local leaders in breach of the law.
“We are required by law to have a unified uniform design.” - T. Nyam-Ochir (ikon.mn)
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Health
Government Seeks Prices for 179 Medicines Through Single-Source Procurement
Published: 2026-08-19
Health Minister E. Batshugar reported to cabinet on single-source procurement of medicines, medical supplies, biologics and vaccines. In 2026, the government used a MNT 2.7 billion allocation to buy recombinant haemophilia factor through an international organization, reducing unit costs and saving MNT 350 million. An analysis found MNT 209.6 billion was spent on 424 medicines covered by the state or subsidized through health insurance in 2025. For 2027, officials have sent requests for price quotations for 179 selected medicines to Poland, Turkey, South Korea, UNDP, UNOPS and UNICEF. They are also collecting one-year demand forecasts from hospitals. A UNDP contract covering 45 anti-seizure medicines from 10 manufacturers is intended to secure supplies for 4,909 patients.
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Customs Inspectors Face Trial Over Bribes Linked to Unregistered Medicines
Published: 2026-08-19
Prosecutors have filed charges against two customs inspectors at Chinggis Khaan International Airport over an alleged MNT 7 million bribe connected to unregistered medicines and health supplements. P.A. and M.S., who were responsible for pharmaceutical and biological-product quality control and veterinary inspection, respectively, are accused of accepting the payment from E.E. on October 27, 2025. Prosecutors allege the payment was intended to allow products not registered in Mongolia’s medicine registry to cross the customs border without inspection. E.E. has also been charged with giving a bribe. The case was sent to the primary criminal court serving Bayangol, Khan-Uul and Songinokhairkhan districts. In a separate case, a Zamiin-Uud customs inspector is accused of accepting an MNT 800,000 bribe in December 2023.
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Maternal and Child Center Introduces Certified Prenatal DNA Screening
Published: 2026-08-19
The National Center for Maternal and Child Health has formally introduced non-invasive prenatal testing, or NIPT, after its Medical Genetics Laboratory received international certification. The blood test analyzes fragments of fetal DNA in a pregnant woman’s blood to assess the risk of certain chromosomal changes, including trisomies involving chromosomes 21, 18 and 13 and changes involving the X and Y sex chromosomes. Doctors said the test has sensitivity of up to 99% for detecting those changes and does not require a needle procedure or fetal sample. The laboratory completed training in DNA sequencing technology and passed four external quality assessments to obtain certification. A high-risk screening result must be followed by confirmatory diagnostic testing under a doctor’s guidance. The service enables earlier assessment, genetic counselling and planning of further clinical care during pregnancy.
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Health Agency Warns Against Using Blue and Non-Food Plastic Containers for Food Storage
Published: 2026-08-19
The National Center for Public Health has warned that blue plastic canisters, industrial plastic containers, and non-food bags or vessels should not be used to store drinking water, milk, airag, yogurt or other dairy products. It said prolonged contact between food and such containers can allow chemicals to migrate into food, with the risk increased by sunlight, high temperatures and repeated use. The agency recommended food-grade 304 or 316 stainless-steel containers, glass, undamaged enamelware, traditional wooden khukhuur vessels, or containers marked as food-safe for storage and transport. Health officials said lead and other substances had been found in large amounts in water stored in commonly used yellow and blue plastic containers. They also said more than 70% of containers in a consumption survey had been imported from China.
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Renovated Schools and Kindergartens Face Material and Air-Quality Tests
Published: 2026-08-19
The Ministry of Education will collect samples from schools and kindergartens undergoing repairs before September 1 to assess whether paint and construction materials meet health and safety standards. It is also testing the air in newly painted classrooms for concentrations of substances that could harm health. Mongolia’s accredited Green Crown laboratory will conduct the air-quality tests, while an accredited laboratory in Australia will examine construction-material samples for heavy metals. Sampling and testing will continue until August 25, with consolidated results due on September 15. The ministry has received preliminary information that 120 schools nationwide are being renovated with water-based or oil-based paint. The checks are intended to determine whether materials used in educational-building repairs and furnishing meet standards and do not adversely affect health.
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Songinokhairkhan Conducts Marmot-Plague Prevention Checks
Published: 2026-08-19
Songinokhairkhan District is conducting preventive inspections at Baruun Turuu and Emeelt vehicle checkpoints to prevent the illegal entry and transport of marmots and marmot-derived raw materials and items. The work follows a June 10, 2026 order by the chair of the district Citizens’ Representatives Khural. Relevant agencies and officers are staffing the checkpoints around the clock. Inspectors are monitoring vehicles and travellers and enforcing laws and quarantine rules related to hunting, transporting and selling marmots. The campaign also addresses risks from plague and other highly contagious diseases affecting people and animals. Officials are providing information on transmission routes, health risks and prevention, and advise residents to report suspected cases and risky activity immediately. Residents are urged not to hunt marmots or to buy, consume or transport marmot meat and related raw materials.
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