On April 24, 2019, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) issued a notice[1] to consult on two national standards on self-monitoring of pollutant-discharging entities, namely the Self-monitoring Technology Guidelines for Pollution Sources: Food Manufacturing Industry and the Self-monitoring Technology Guidelines for Pollution Sources: Alcohol Products and Beverage Manufacturing Industry.
In line with the General Rules for Self-monitoring Technology Guidelines for Pollution Sources (HJ 819-2017)[2], which came into effect on June 1, 2017, the two standards specified the general responsibilities of pollutant-discharging entities in conducting self-monitoring: pollutant-discharging entities should confirm details about their pollution sources, pollutant indicators, and potential environmental impacts they may cause; develop self-monitoring programs, install and maintain monitoring facilities, and perform monitoring in accordance with the programs; and ensure quality assurance and control, record and preserve monitoring data, and make monitoring results public.
The self-monitoring program usually consists of five parts, including monitoring of sewage discharge, monitoring of waste gas discharge, noise control, monitoring of impacts on environmental quality, and other requirements. In particular, when monitoring their discharge of sewage and waste gas, relevant entities should determine monitoring sites, indicators, and frequency. Moreover, key pollutant-discharge entities and non-key ones are subject to differentiated requirements.
In terms of information recording and reporting, pollutant-discharging entities should put on record the monitoring information and information about the functioning of production and pollution treatment facilities. Information reporting and disclosure in this regard should be conducted following requirements in HJ 819-2017.
