In November 2016, China’s State Council published the Implementation Program of Pollutants Emission Permit System (控制污染物排放许可制实施方案）, which marked the beginning of implementation.
In March 2018, China’s State Council made sweeping changes to its administrative intuitions which involved disbanding several Ministries, setting up several new ones in their place and aligning the overall administrative structure to facilitate realization of China’s economic, social and environmental goals. Of particular significance to the implementation of the Pollution Emission Permit (PEP) the MEP was disbanded and MEE was established. MEE took over the duties of MEP including the administration and enforcement of requirements related to the PEP. MEE setup a Central Office of Environmental and Ecological Supervision to orchestrate national routine ecological and environmental inspection activities. A sub department, named the Department of Environmental Impact Assessment and Emission Management was also established and will be responsible for issuing, enforcing and supervising the PEP system.
According to Dr. Wen lizhao, the pollutant emission permit is currently being revised. The new permit will be an exclusive administrative license to comprehensively manage all pollutant emissions made by an enterprise.
In the first half year of 2018, MEE (previous MEP) endeavored to promote the reform of the pollutant emission system. 13 technical specifications have been published and 8 have finished consultation. By Mid-August of 2018, MEE has completed the verification and issuance of 23410 pollutant emission permits. So far MEM has published a total of 34 technical Specifications for application and issuance of pollutant permit, covering non-ferrous metal, battery industry etc. For a brief chronology please see chart 1.
China MEE has drafted the Work Plan of Pollution Prevention and Control Supported by Pollutant Emission System 《排污许可制全面支撑打好污染防治攻坚战工作方案》 which is expected to be released soon.
The work plan proposes:
Accelerate the verification and issuance of pollutant emission permit. In 2019, the pollutant emission system should cover all key industries. In 2020, the pollutant emission system will cover all stationary pollution sources.
Establish a mechanism to control the number of stationary sources
Set up an information platform to manage the information about stationary sources
