On Dec 24th, 2014, Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) circulated the “Comprehensive Directory of Environmental Protection (2014)” to other Ministries and organizations such as National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Ministry of Finance (MOF), Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), People’s Bank of China (PBC).
The Directory consists of two parts. The first is the directory of products that are highly polluting and of high environmental risk (“dual high products”). 777 products are listed in this directory, including over 30 products that produce large amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as byproducts, nearly 200 products that cause heavy metal pollution and nearly 500 products of high environmental risks.
The second part is the directory of 40 priority pieces of equipment used in environmental protection, including equipment for environmental monitoring, air pollution and solid waste prevention and treatment.
The Comprehensive Directory of Environmental Protection has been revised every year since 2007. With this directory, MEP will coordinate with other ministries and organizations to establish more stringent supervision on the dual high products. Relevant stakeholders will be subject to higher production cost when manufacturing and using these products under associated financial policies. With the administrative and financial measures, MEP expects to accelerate the phase-out and substitution of these dual high products. Also with the provision of the directory of environmental protection equipment, MEP is encouraging industry to implement environmentally friendly production lines and advance technical capacities.
