Provinces and Cities in China Release Local Work Plans for New Pollutants Treatment (Updated in Feb 2023)

The Action Plan for New Pollutants Treatment (hereinafter referred to as the National Plan) was approved by the Chinese General Office of the State Council and officially released on May 24, 2022, which vows to improve the China’s new pollutants treatment capacity significantly by 2025. The National Plan requires chemical inspection and monitoring to evaluate environmental risks and accurately identify new pollutants of high-risk, as well as full-packaged and targeted measures to curb pollution sources and reduce pollutants emissions.

Following the National Plan, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) issued the List of New Pollutants for Priority Management (2023) (hereinafter referred to as the National List) on December 30 of 2022, which is China's first official list of new pollutants subject to priority management. To pave the way for “One Type of New Pollutants, One Policy” management, those listed new pollutants are provided with their own major control measures.

In addition, many provincial administrative regions of China have successively drafted or officially released their own Work Plan for New Pollutants Treatment (hereinafter referred to as the Local Plan) to push forward the management for new pollutants based on the National Plan and local situations. The table below illustrates the provinces that have published the corresponding Local Plan (most of the content is similar with the National Plan).

Shanghai Municipality

Shanghai's List of New Pollutants for Priority Management (Release date: Feb. 3, 2023; Effective date: Mar. 1, 2023)

Shanghai's Workplan for New Pollutants Treatment (Release date: Jan. 13, 2023; Effective date: Feb. 1, 2023)

Shanghai's Draft Local Plan (Comments period: Nov. 1, 2022 ~ Nov. 7, 2022)

Based on the national list of new pollutants for priority management and local conditions, Shanghai should release Shanghai’s list of new pollutants for priority management with their own control measures.
Investigations on basic information for key industrial chemicals used in key industries will be carried out. By the end of 2023, Shanghai will complete the detailed information survey on the first batch of priority chemicals subject to the environment risk assessment.
Environmental and health hazard testing and risk screening will be carried out in Shanghai, focusing on the chemical substances of high concern, high yield, high environmental detection rate, and dispersed uses. By the end of 2025, Shanghai will complete the screening for environmental risks of the following chemicals:

Antibiotic;
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and its salts and perfluorooctanesulfonyl fluoride (PFOS);
Perfluorooctanoic acid and its salts and related compounds (PFOA);
Perfluorohexylsulfonic acid and its salts and related compounds (PFHxS);
Nonylphenol;
Dichloromethane;
Trichloromethane; and
Bisphenol A, etc.

The environmental health risk assessment of bisphenol A and other substances with relevant characteristics in Shanghai's chemical industry park will be further optimized. Strict control will be carried out for new reconstructions and expansion projects of new pollutants with environmental and health risks in Shanghai.
Shanghai will take actions to reduce the ecological and environmental risks of perfluorinated compound emissions, e.g.,

Phase out the purchases of PFOS-containing fire extinguishing foam products; and
Complete the harmless disposal of PFOS-containing fire extinguishing foam products in the existing installations in Shanghai's industrial parks.

Zhejiang Province

Zhejiang's Workplan for New Pollutants Treatment (Release date: Dec. 30, 2022; Effective date: Feb. 13, 2023)

Zhejiang’s Draft Local Plan (Comment period: Sep. 30, 2022 ~ Oct. 30, 2022)

Pilot projects of new pollutants treatment will be carried out in key industry of relevant districts or cities in Zhejiang province, more specifically:
1) Rubber and plastic industry;
2) Petrochemical industry;
3) Chemical industry; and
4) Pharmaceutical industry.
By June 30 of 2023, the construction plans of these pilot projects shall be reported to Zhejiang’s Department of Ecology and Environment, clarifying list of new pollutants for priority management, key emission sources and key control measures.
Meanwhile, the pilot project regarding harmless disposal of waste foam fire extinguishing agents containing PFOS shall be promoted in Zhejiang, according to the requirements by the State.
Investigations on basic information and risk assessments will be carried out for toxic and hazardous chemicals in key industries (including chemical, rubber and plastics, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, printing and dyeing, and animal husbandry).
By the end of 2023, Zhejiang’s database of basic information on toxic and hazardous chemicals shall be established. Zhejiang’s list of new pollutants for priority management shall be issued as per “One Type of New Pollutants, One Policy” management, as well as a list of key emission sources of new pollutants accompanying with corresponding control measures .
Relevant enterprises shall publish information on the use of toxic and hazardous raw materials in a way that the public can easily access, including chemical names, concentration, and quantities of the toxic and hazardous substances they discharged.
Severe punishment shall be applied to illegal production, processing and use of phased-out POPs (including hexabromocyclododecane, chlorofluorocarbons, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride, DDT contained in coatings, dicofol).
Local standards regarding testing methods for new pollutants, and emission limits for water pollutants in key industries and environmental quality standards shall be formulated.

Tianjin Municipality

Tianjin's Workplan for New Pollutants Treatment (Release date: Jan. 4, 2023; Effective date: took effect immediately)

Tianjin’s Draft Local Plan (Comment period: Sep. 22, 2022 ~ Sep. 30, 2022)

Pilot projects of new pollutants treatment will be carried out focusing on key industries in Tianjin, including petrochemical, coatings, pharmaceutical industries.
Pilot projects regarding investigations and monitoring of POPs, endocrine disruptors, PFCs, etc. shall be launched in Tianjin.
Pilot project regarding the monitoring and risk assessments of microplastics shall be carried out in typical coastal areas of the Bohai Sea.
Based on the National List and local conditions, a supplementary list of new pollutants for priority management in Tianjin shall be formulated with corresponding control measures.
Strict control shall be implemented for the chemicals in the Catalogues of Goods Prohibited from Import and Export.
Environmental management requirements shall be strictly applied to the import/export of chemicals listed in Inventory of Severely Restricted Toxic Chemicals.
Coordinated control of toxic and hazardous air pollutants and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) shall be strengthened. Comprehensive treatment of VOCs in the whole process shall be implemented.

Jiangsu Province

Jiangsu's Workplan for New Pollutants Treatment (Release date: Dec. 8, 2022; Effective date: took effect immediately)

Jiangsu's Draft Local Plan (Comments period: Nov. 8, 2022 ~ Nov. 12, 2022)

By the end of 2023, regulations on the management and control of new pollutants in chemical parks shall be issued.
By the end of 2023, Jiangsu will complete the detailed information survey on the first batch of priority chemicals subject to the environment risk assessment.
A supplementary list of new pollutants for priority management in Jiangsu shall be formulated with corresponding control measures.
Promote the management and control of toxic and harmful chemical substances in chemical parks (centralized area) across the Jiangsu province.

Hainan Province

Hainan's Workplan for New Pollutants Treatment (Release date: Nov. 14, 2022; Effective date: took effect immediately)

Hainan’s Draft Local Plan (Comment period: Sep. 26, 2022 ~ Sep. 30, 2022)

Pilot projects regarding environmental investigation and monitoring of new pollutants will be carried out in Hainan, more specifically:
1) In Hainan’s drinking water sources, focusing on antibiotics, chlorpyrifos and other prohibited pesticides;
2) In Hainan’s three major river basins (i.e., Nandu River, Changhua River and Wanquan River), focusing on POPs, endocrine disruptors, antibiotics, and microplastics;
3) In the estuaries of Hainan’s three major river basins and the waters around Xisha Island and Yongxing Island, focusing on microplastics;
4) In Yangpu (in Danzhou), Dongfang and other industrial parks, focusing on POPs and pollution sources; etc.
Pilot projects regarding new pollutants treatment in Hainan will be carried out in key areas or key industries, more specifically:
1) In Hainan’s three major river basins and water sources, focusing on POPs, endocrine disruptors, and antibiotics;
2) In petrochemical industry of Yangpu (in Danzhou), focusing on POPs;
3) In solid waste incineration industry, focusing on dioxins and other POPs; etc.
By the end of 2023, based on the catalogues of priority chemicals issued by the State and Hainan authority, a supplementary list of new pollutants for priority management in Hainan shall be issued.

Yunnan Province

Yunnan's Workplan for New Pollutants Treatment (Release date: Dec. 12, 2022; Effective date: took effect immediately)

Yunnan’s Draft Local Plan (Comment period: Sep. 1, 2022 ~ Sep. 30, 2022)

By the end of 2024, the list of new pollutants for priority management in Yunnan shall be released, based on the followings:
1) The National List (to be issued by the end of 2022)
2) List of Toxic and Hazardous Air Pollutants
3) List of Toxic and Hazardous Water Pollutants
4) List of Toxic and Hazardous Soil Chemical Substances for Priority Management (not yet released)
Relevant enterprises shall publish information on the use of toxic and hazardous raw materials in a way that the public can easily access, including chemical names, concentration, and quantities of the toxic and hazardous substances they discharged.

Heilongjiang Province

Heilongjiang's Workplan for New Pollutants Treatment (Release date: Nov. 4, 2022; Effective date: took effect immediately)

Heilongjiang’s Draft Local Plan (Comment period: Aug. 22, 2022 ~ Sep. 5, 2022)

By March 31, 2023, Heilongjiang’s work plan for new pollutants treatment shall be formulated according to local conditions.
Analysis of environmental risk characterization shall be carried out on 2 or 3 key types of new pollutants (high toxicity and high exposure). Based on the National List and relevant environmental information investigation results, a supplementary list of new pollutants for priority management in Heilongjiang shall be formulated with corresponding control measures.
Relevant enterprises shall publish information on the use of toxic and hazardous raw materials in a way that the public can easily access, including chemical names, concentration, and quantities of the toxic and hazardous substances they discharged.

Sichuan Province

Sichuan's Workplan for New Pollutants Treatment (Release date: Dec. 27, 2022; Effective date: took effect immediately)

Sichuan’s Draft Local Plan (Comment period: Aug. 17, 2022 ~ Sep. 17, 2022)

By the end of 2023, Sichuan’s work plan for new pollutants treatment shall be officially released according to local conditions .
Pilot projects of new pollutants treatment will be carried out in key industries in Sichuan, including petrochemical, coatings, pesticide, pharmaceutical, electropainting industries, etc. E.g., pilot project of PFCs governance will be carried out in key chemical enterprises in Zigong city.
Investigations on the production, processing, use and storage of certain POPs (i.e., polychlorinated naphthalenes, hexachlorobutadiene, pentachlorophenol and its salts and esters, short-chain chlorinated paraffins and C-decaBDE) will be carried out.
A supplementary list of new pollutants for priority management in Chengdu-Chongqing area shall be formulated with corresponding control measures.

Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

Guangxi's Workplan for New Pollutants Treatment (Release date: Nov. 11, 2022; Effective date: took effect immediately)

Guangxi’s Draft Local Plan (Comment period: Jul. 20, 2022 ~ Aug. 18, 2022)

By the end of 2023, investigations of basic environmental information on chemical substances used in 2 ~ 3 key industries (choosing from chemical, pulp and paper, automobile manufacturing, non-ferrous metals mining & dressing industries, etc.) in Guangxi shall be completed. By the end of 2025, investigations of detailed information on chemical substances used in 3 ~ 5 abovementioned key industries shall be completed.
Pilot projects of new pollutants treatment in Guangxi will be carried out in industries such as chemical, automobile manufacturing, and non-ferrous metals mining & dressing industries.

Henan Province

Henan's Workplan for New Pollutants Treatment (Release date: Jan. 20, 2023; Effective date: took effect immediately)

Qinghai Province

Qinghai's Workplan for New Pollutants Treatment (Release date: Jan. 6, 2023; Effective date: took effect immediately)

Gansu Province

Gansu's Workplan for New Pollutants Treatment (Release date: Jan. 18, 2023; Effective date: took effect immediately)

Gansu's Draft Local Plan (Comments period: Dec. 20, 2022 ~ Dec. 27, 2022)

Liaoning Province

Liaoning's Draft Local Plan (Comments period: Dec. 9, 2022 ~ Dec. 16, 2022)

Shanxi Province

(山西省)

Shanxi’s Workplan for New Pollutants Treatment (Release date: Dec. 8, 2022; Effective date: took effect immediately)

Shandong Province

Shandong's Draft Local Plan (Comments period: Nov. 29, 2022 ~ Dec. 6, 2022)

Shannxi Province

(陕西省)

Shannxi's Workplan for New Pollutants Treatment (Release date: Nov. 7, 2022; Effective date: took effect immediately)

Hebei Province

Hebei's Workplan for New Pollutants Treatment (Release date: Dec. 17, 2022; Effective date: took effect immediately)

Hebei's Draft Local Plan (Comments period: Oct. 22, 2022 ~ Nov. 23, 2022)

For other administrative regions, the corresponding documents may be made public soon, or later. ChemLinked will keep a close eye and update the latest information.