Cleaner Production in China -- Environmental Legislation

On June 29, 2002, the National People's Congress approved  new and comprehensive cleaner production legislation, the Cleaner Production Promotion Law. This new law is the most significant of a number of initiatives the Chinese government has taken to establish Cleaner Production nationwide as one of China's key strategies for sustainable development. It is unprecedented, being the first national law in the world to establish Cleaner Production as a national policy, and to lay out a strategy for its promotion and implementation. This law became effective January 1, 2003.  http://www.chinacp.com/eng/cppolicystrategy/cp_law2002.html

Environmental Legislation
(Based on an unpublished document prepared by UNEP)

China did not until the year 2002 have a specific law or act relating to cleaner production/pollution prevention, but cleaner production is reflected in several environmental laws. The relevant legislation is summarized below.

1998

National Peoples' Congress (NPC)-- PRC Law on Energy Saving ( effective 1 Jan 1998): Several programs will be set up under the provision of this law to develop upper-limits for energy consumption per unit of  production. The act provides for the phasing-out of outdated products and equipment with excessive levels of energy consumption. The law also provides for energy-saving labeling.


1996


NPC--PRC Law on Water Pollution Prevention and Control --- Article 22: Enterprises should adopt cleaner production technologies to achieve higher efficiency of resource use and to generates reduced levels  of pollutants.  Enterprises should strengthen house-keeping to reduce the generation of pollutants


1995


NPC-- PRC Law on Air Pollution Prevention and Control --- Article 15: In order to reduce the generation of air pollutants, enterprises should give priority to adopting cleaner production technology which has higher energy efficiency and generates less waste.

NPC-- PRC Law on Solid Waste Prevention and Control --- Article 4: The State encourages and supports the adoption of cleaner production technologies to reduce the generation of solid waste.


1989


NPC-- PRC Law on Environmental Protection ---- Article 25: Applies to new enterprises or existing enterprises renovating their technology. These enterprises should use equipment and processes which have high efficiency of resource use and generate less waste.

See also: 

From the website of Cleaner Production in China 
http://www.chinacp.com/eng/cnenvleg.html
ŠNDRC 2000-2006