China will start to implement the national phase III and phase IV auto vehicle emission standards in 2007 and 2010, respectively, as learned from the National Environmental Science and Technology Conference recently held in Beijing.

For each single engine, its pollutant emission could be reduced by more than 30 percent when standards of a higher phase are introduced.

According to an official of the Department of Science, Technology and Standards of the State Environment Protection Administration, implementation of these two sets of standards could cut the emission of road vehicles by 1.8 million tons in nitric oxide, 2.2 million tons in hydrocarbon and 16 million tons in carbon monoxide between 2008 and 2012. This is expected to bring tremendous environmental benefits to society, promote technological updates and catch up with international level as well as facilitate the export of related products.

The official said that by 2010, China will reduce her gap with internationally advanced levels from eight years in 2000 to five years regarding emission control technologies.

According to the latest statistics, China has become the third largest automobile producer in the world, with an annual output exceeding 5 million units and possessing nearly 33 million units.

China's prevention and control of automobile pollution started in the 1980's with the issuance and implementation of emission standards of automobiles. In 1999, the Administration mapped out the standards on the control of harmful materials of vehicle-use gas and the phase I and phase II pollutant control standards of light vehicles and compression ignition engine (CIE) equipped on heavy vehicles, which are the equivalent of Europe I and II standards.

By People's Daily Online