China outlines plan to control new pollutants

The General Office of the State Council issued an action plan on controlling new pollutants, according to a circular released on May 24.

New pollutants, including persistent organic pollutants, endocrine disruptors and antibiotics controlled by international conventions, come from production and use of toxic, harmful chemicals in most cases.

The plan required chemical inspection and monitoring to evaluate environmental risks and accurately identify new high-risk pollutants. Full-packed, targeted measures are required to curb pollution sources, reduce pollutant emissions and treat the polluted environment.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), special treatment action will be taken against a batch of controlled new pollutants, with a long-term treatment mechanism to be established.

By 2025, screening over environmental risks on high-concern and high-yield chemicals will be completed. Environmental risk assessment on a batch of chemicals will be finished with an upgrading management system over new pollutants set up. The pollution treatment capability will also be significantly enhanced.

Laws, regulations and management systems on chemical-related environmental issues will be gradually established and improved. A technology standard system will also be built for risk assessment and control.

The plan also urged building an environment information inspection system, an environment risk assessment system for chemical substances and an environment inspection and monitoring system for new pollutants. It also stressed publishing a list of controlled new pollutants on a dynamic basis.

To strictly control pollution sources and prevent new pollutants, the plan emphasized environmental management registration of new pollutants, while requiring further proportion control of controlled new pollutants in products.

Clean production and green manufacturing, regulated use and management of antibiotic drugs and strengthened management of pesticides are also stressed in the plan.

Pilot projects for new pollutant control will be conducted in selected enterprises, industrial parks in Yangtze, Yellow River basins, key drinking water sources and key estuaries and bays.