In Nov 2016, China’s State Council published the Implementation Program of Pollutants Emission Permit System（控制污染物排放许可制实施方案. The Implementation Program designates the pollutants emission permit system as the fundamental regulatory mechanism in China’s environmental protection legal framework. As ChemLinked reported, with the backup of the Implementation Program, the permit system became more powerful and enforceable. On Jan 20th 2017, the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) published the draft of the Management Catalog of Fixed Pollution Sources（固定污染源排污许可分类管理目录） and sought opinion from the public.
The catalog specifies 31 industries in which the enterprises should apply for pollutants emission permits. Implementation deadlines are individualized to each industry. These 31 industries are further subdivided into 80 secondary industries which are classified into 3 types based on total emission amount and environmental hazard level:
Secondary industries under general management;
Secondary industries under simplified management: industries whose emission amounts are relatively small and environmental hazard level is relatively low;
Secondary industries that postponed management.
The Catalog covers all the priority industries that were set by Action Plan for the Prevention and Treatment of Air and Water Pollution. These industries are responsible for 80% of total pollutants emission in China, according to China’s annual environmental statistics report in 2014. Currently management focuses on water and air pollutants. Solid wastes and noise are not included at present.
An enterprise only needs one emission permit even if it is involved in production activities in more than one industry. This permit should contain information of all the pollutants emission of this enterprise. Specific production techniques are required to be phased out as detailed in “Industrial Restructuring Guidance” which was issued in 2011 and amended in 2013. Authorities won’t issue an emission permit to any enterprise with the production activities as mentioned in the “Industrial Restructuring Guidance”.
At the moment the authorities are preparing for the Administrative Measures of Pollutants Emission Permit. It will be another important piece of the puzzle to build and complete the pollution management system of China.
