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The following is a list of 15 regulations or projects on VOCs emission management in China listed in chronological order of implementation/development.
(Regulations or projects marked with “«” are published by the state council, indicating the strongest legal effect among the regulations. Law is marked with“«««”.)
May 2010
It is the first time that China lists VOCs as major pollutants for control together with Sox, NOx, and PM. Acid rain, smog, and photochemical smog pollution are key problems to be tackled.
December 2011
«2. The 12th Five-Year National Plan for Environmental Protection
The Plan proposed to enhance regulations and supervision on toxic gas by monitoring VOCs and toxic gas and to set up pollutant emission standard in key industries. Plants to develop strengthened regulations on VOCs and toxic gas. Enterprises are suggested to use water-based, low-toxicity or low volatility solvent.
February 2012
3. China Ambient Air Quality Standard (GB3095-2012)
This is the third revision which newly includes concentration limit for particulate matter (≤2.5 micrometers), and 8-hour average concentration limit for ozone.
October 2012
4. The 12th Five-Year National Plan on Air Pollution Prevention and Control in Key Area
The plan mainly includes the following goals in terms of VOCs control:
To conduct an investigation to outline current VOCs emission in China;
To further improve the policies regulating VOCs emission;
To promote online monitoring of VOCs emission.
October 2012
5. Key projects of 12th five-year National Plan on Air Pollution Prevention and Control in Key Area
The document lists 1311 key projects in VOCs emission control that will bring a reduction of 6,050,000 tons of VOCs emission per year; the total cost is 40 billion Yuan.
It also includes 281 oil and gas recovery projects which will cut down 4,050,000 tons of VOCs per year, with a total cost of 21.5 billion Yuan.
March 2013
6. Technical Guidance for the prevention and control of VOCs
By 2015 China will establish a VOCs control system in the key area.
By 2020, China achieves a comprehensive VOCs reduction from raw materials to products, and from manufacture to consumption.
September 2013
«7. Action Plan of Air Pollution Prevention and Control
Key points: Pollutant emission fees should be increased at the proper time, and emission of VOCs should be included in the fees as well.
A comprehensive control and prevention project will be carried out in petrochemical, organic chemical, coating, packaging, and printing industries.
The VOCs emission standard for coatings and adhesives should be improved. Enterprises are suggested to manufacture, sell and use low-toxicity or low volatility solvent.
December 2013
8. Guiding Opinions on Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction of the Petrochemical Industry
Key points: To implement comprehensive VOCs control in petrochemical industries; to complete the emission standards for VOCs in coating and adhesives products; to promote the use of water-based coatings, and low toxicity, low volatile organic solvents.
December 2013
9. Technical Guidance of Monitoring VOCs in Urban Air
The document lists VOCs as a regular monitoring compound and provides monitoring techniques.
January 2015
10. Pollutant Emission Standard for Petrochemical Industry
Outlines detailed requirements about VOCs control on petrochemical industry, petroleum refining industry, and synthetic resins industry.
June 2015
11. The Measures for the Charge of VOCs Emission Fees (Trial)
To pilot VOCs emission fees in the petrochemical industry, and packaging& printing industry;
Each province, autonomous regions, and municipalities could expand their piloting to more industries and corresponding charging measures based on their practices.
August 2015
«««12. Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution
Key points: To achieve a coordinated control of PM, Sox. NOx, VOCs, and ammonia.
Activities emitting VOCs must take place in confined space or equipment, installed with pollution control facilities.
Industrial coating companies should use coatings with low VOCs emission. The companies shall establish an account recording the content of VOCs.
March 2016
«13. The 13th Five-year Plan for China’s Environmental Protection
A comprehensive control of VOCs emission in 7 key industries- the auto industry, ship industry, container industry, furniture industry, construction machinery industry, steel structure industry, and coil industry.
July 2016
14. The Reduction Plan for VOCs in Key Industries
By 2018, industries are to reduce 3.3 million tons of VOCs emission compared to in 2015.
Low-VOCs coatings and adhesive will take up to more than 60% and 85% of market share.
December, 2016
15. 2016 version of Catalogue of Advanced Pollution Control Techniques – VOCs
It is a supporting technical document to the Law of Environmental Protection and Law on the Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution. The catalogue includes 18 techniques of VOCs control, reduction, and treatment.
