China has announced the adoption of tougher vehicle emissions regulations on July 1 equivalent to Europe's Euro II standards in a bid to reduce vehicular emission in terms of the weight of pollutants and suspended particulate matter.

The new standards will regulate a 30 percent cut in carbon monoxide, and 55 percent cuts in hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide from the Euro I standards adopted by China in 2001, CRIENGLISH.com reported Monday.

Manufactured and imported vehicles that have been approved that only meet Euro I standards will have to end production or imports within a year. Sales of such vehicles must cease the following day.

The country's Environmental Protection Administration states that the whole country will adopt Euro III standards in 2008 while Beijing will first adopt Euro III-equivalent standards as early as next

Source: CRIENGLISH.com