China published the amended Law on the Prevention of Environmental Pollution by Solid Wastes on Wednesday, in an effort to safeguard the health of the public, maintain bioenvironmental security and promote sustainable economic and social development.

The revised law was approved by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) and signed by President Hu Jintao in the No. 31 Presidential Decree.

The law, comprising six articles and 91 clauses, will go into effect on April 1, 2005. Under the law, governments at the county level and above will have to include solid waste control in local plans for economic and social development.

China passes amendment to solid waste pollution prevention law

The 13th session of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) approved on December 29 an amendment to the law on solid waste pollution prevention to resolve the serious challenges caused by mounting solid waste.

The draft amendment was once submitted for the first deliberation to the 12th meeting of the 10th NPC Standing Committee held from Oct. 22 to 27.

"Encouraging the circulation of solid waste and clarifying the responsibility of the polluters are the major principles of the revision," said Mao Rubai, chairman of the Environment and Resources Protection Committee of the NPC.

The current law stipulates relatively clear responsibility clauses during the production process, but lacks clauses after sale and during disposal. These have been added in the amendment.

The amendment also defines the responsibilities of different parts if the former waste producers were divided, transferred, combined with others.

Officials failing to perform their supervision duties in line with the law will receive punishment, even criminal accusation, according to the amendment.

The increase in imported solid waste, which has caused serious pollution across the country, has drawn concern from all walks of Chinese society. The amendment regulates that classified management should be launched on the different kinds of imported waste, and those violating the law may face criminal prosecution.

It also adds clauses on how to deal with dangerous waste, excessive package, discarded electronic appliances and domestic animal excretion in rural areas.

"We have realized that the problem cannot be totally resolved only by strengthening administration," said Mao.

Therefore, the amendment adds clauses to help pollution victims find evidence and cut down the costs of lawsuits against pollution producers.

Source: Xinhua