Starting from May, a large number of new environmental protection regulations and standards will be implemented

1. "Water Conservation Regulations"

The "Regulations" propose implementing water efficiency labeling management for water-using products with high water-saving potential and wide usage, and gradually phasing out water-using products with lower water efficiency levels. Subsidies will be provided for eligible water-saving projects according to national regulations. Units and individuals with significant water-saving achievements will be commended and rewarded according to national regulations. Effective from May 1, 2024.

2. "Interim Regulations on Carbon Emission Rights Trading Management"

These regulations are formulated to regulate carbon emission rights trading, strengthen control and management of greenhouse gas emissions, promote the achievement of peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality goals, facilitate the green and low-carbon transformation of economic and social development, and advance ecological civilization construction. Effective from May 1, 2024.

3. "Green Construction Evaluation Standard for Building and Municipal Engineering" (GB/T50640-2023)

This standard is formulated to promote green construction and standardize the evaluation methods for green construction of building and municipal engineering. It applies to the green construction evaluation of new, expanded, renovated, and demolished building projects as well as municipal projects such as roads, bridges, and tunnels. In addition to complying with this standard, the green construction evaluation of building and municipal engineering shall also comply with the current relevant national standards. Effective from May 1, 2024.

4. "Technical Specification for Source Apportionment of Ambient Air Particulate Matter Based on Manual Monitoring Receptor Model Method" (HJ 1351-2024)

To implement the "Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China" and the "Air Pollution Prevention and Control Law of the People's Republic of China," strengthen air pollution prevention and control, protect and improve the ecological environment, safeguard human health, and standardize the source apportionment of ambient air particulate matter based on manual monitoring receptor model method, this standard is formulated. This standard is one of the series of standards for source apportionment of ambient air particulate matter and specifies the technical methods for source apportionment of ambient air particulate matter based on manual monitoring receptor model method. Appendices A to D of this standard are informative appendices. This is the first release of this standard. Effective from May 1.

5. "Technical Specification for Monitoring Data Processing and Verification of Source Apportionment of Ambient Air Particulate Matter Based on Manual Monitoring Receptor Model Method" (HJ 1352-2024)

To implement the "Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China" and the "Air Pollution Prevention and Control Law of the People's Republic of China," strengthen air pollution prevention and control, protect and improve the ecological environment, safeguard human health, and standardize the source apportionment of ambient air particulate matter based on manual monitoring receptor model method, this standard is formulated. This standard is one of the series of standards for source apportionment of ambient air particulate matter and specifies the processing and verification of monitoring data in the source apportionment work of ambient air particulate matter based on manual monitoring and receptor model method. This is the first release of this standard. Effective from May 1.

6. "Technical Guide for Positive Matrix Factorization Model Calculation of Source Apportionment of Ambient Air Particulate Matter" (HJ 1353-2024)

To implement the "Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China" and the "Air Pollution Prevention and Control Law of the People's Republic of China," strengthen air pollution prevention and control, protect and improve the ecological environment, safeguard human health, and standardize the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model calculation in the source apportionment of ambient air particulate matter, this standard is formulated. This standard is one of the series of standards for source apportionment of ambient air particulate matter and specifies the PMF model calculation methods. Appendices A and B of this standard are informative appendices. This is the first release of this standard. Effective from May 1.

7. "Technical Guide for Chemical Mass Balance Model Calculation of Source Apportionment of Ambient Air Particulate Matter" (HJ 1354-2024)

To implement the "Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China" and the "Air Pollution Prevention and Control Law of the People's Republic of China," strengthen air pollution prevention and control, protect and improve the ecological environment, safeguard human health, and standardize the chemical mass balance (CMB) model calculation in the source apportionment of ambient air particulate matter, this standard is formulated. This standard is one of the series of standards for source apportionment of ambient air particulate matter and specifies the CMB model calculation methods. Appendices A to D of this standard are informative appendices. This is the first release of this standard. Effective from May 1.

8. "Design Requirements for Spent Fuel Transport Containers" (HJ 1355-2024)

To implement the "Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China," "Radioactive Pollution Prevention Law of the People's Republic of China," "Nuclear Safety Law of the People's Republic of China," and "Regulations on the Safe Transport of Radioactive Materials," prevent radioactive pollution, safeguard human health, protect the ecological environment, and standardize the design activities of spent fuel transport containers, this standard is formulated. This standard is based on the "Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Materials" (GB 11806—2019) and refers to domestic and international radioactive material transport safety guidelines such as the "Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Materials" (IAEA SSR-6). It specifies design principles and requirements for spent fuel transport containers, including material requirements, structural design requirements, thermal design requirements, containment design requirements, shielding design requirements, criticality safety design requirements, and manufacturing requirements. Appendix A of this standard is an informative appendix. This is the first release of this standard. Effective from May 1.

9. "Technical Specification for Remote Sensing Survey of Ecological Environment Protection Law Enforcement and Supervision of Drinking Water Source Areas" (HJ 1356-2024)

To implement the "Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China" and the "Water Pollution Prevention and Control Law of the People's Republic of China," prevent environmental pollution, improve ecological environment quality, and standardize and guide the remote sensing survey work for ecological environment protection law enforcement and supervision of drinking water source areas, this standard is formulated. This standard specifies the workflow, data preparation, remote sensing interpretation, clue screening, clue generation, and result archiving requirements for remote sensing surveys of ecological environment protection law enforcement and supervision of drinking water source areas using satellite, drone, and other remote sensing technologies. Appendix A of this standard is normative, and Appendices B to E are informative appendices. This is the first release of this standard. Effective from May 1.

This document specifies the discharge control, monitoring and supervision requirements for sewage from medical institutions, exhaust gas from sewage treatment stations, and sludge from sewage treatment stations. It applies to the discharge management of sewage from medical institutions, exhaust gas from sewage treatment stations, and sludge from sewage treatment stations, as well as environmental impact assessment, environmental protection facility design, completion environmental protection acceptance, pollutant discharge permit issuance, and pollutant discharge management after commissioning of new medical institutions. It also applies to pollutant discharge management of cabin hospitals and centralized quarantine sites during major epidemic prevention and control. This standard is effective from May 1.

2. Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region "Emission Standard for Atmospheric Pollutants from Cement Industry" (DB641995—2024)

This standard clarifies the emission requirements for PM, SO2, NOX, and other pollutants in the cement industry in Ningxia, as well as pollutant monitoring requirements, implementation, and supervision requirements. It plays an important role in effectively controlling primary and secondary particles in ambient air and reducing atmospheric O3 concentration.

The emission standards for particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides from cement kilns and kiln tail waste heat utilization systems are 10, 50, and 100 mg/m³ respectively. For co-processing of solid wastes such as calcium carbide slag, the nitrogen oxides limit is 150 mg/m³. This standard shall be implemented from May 4, 2024.

3. Jiangsu Province "Technical Specification for Ecological Treatment of Pond Aquaculture Tailwater" (DB32/T 4725-2024)

This document specifies the facility requirements for ecological treatment of pond aquaculture tailwater and the technical requirements for tailwater treatment, discharge, and reuse. This document applies to ecological treatment of freshwater and seawater pond aquaculture tailwater. It shall be implemented from May 3, 2024.

4. Group Standard "Technical Specification for Quality Control of Soil and Groundwater Monitoring around Key Soil Pollution Supervision Units" (T/GXSES 0003-2024)

This document defines the terms and definitions involved in quality control of soil and groundwater monitoring around key soil pollution supervision units, and specifies the quality control technical requirements for monitoring plan preparation, personnel requirements, instruments and equipment, sample collection, sample transfer, sample preparation, sample analysis and testing, quality evaluation, and quality system for soil and groundwater monitoring around key soil pollution supervision units.

This document applies to quality control during soil and groundwater monitoring around key soil pollution supervision units. Quality control for soil and groundwater monitoring around other industrial enterprises can refer to this document. It shall be implemented from May 5, 2024.

5. Henan Province "Medical Institution Water Pollutant Discharge Standard" (DB41/2555-2023)

This document specifies the discharge control, monitoring and supervision requirements for sewage from medical institutions, exhaust gas from sewage treatment stations, and sludge from sewage treatment stations. It applies to the discharge management of sewage from medical institutions, exhaust gas and sludge from sewage treatment stations, environmental impact assessment, environmental protection facility design, completion environmental protection acceptance, issuance of discharge permits, and pollutant discharge management after commissioning of newly built medical institutions. It also applies to pollutant discharge management in cabin hospitals and centralized isolation sites during major epidemic prevention and control. It shall be implemented from May 1, 2024.

6. Shandong Province "Seawater Aquaculture Tailwater Discharge Standard" (DB37/4676-2023)

This document specifies the discharge control requirements, monitoring requirements, and compliance determination for seawater aquaculture tailwater discharge. It applies to tailwater discharge management of seawater pond aquaculture and seawater factory aquaculture. It shall be implemented from May 24, 2024.

7. Shenzhen City "Technical Specification for Supervision and Inspection of Drinking Water Quality" (DB4403/T 435-2024)

This document specifies technical contents such as the setting, frequency, indicators of supervision and inspection points in water quality supervision and inspection, on-site supervision and inspection, testing methods and quality control, online water quality monitoring data, result determination, reporting and handling, water quality information disclosure and data preservation, and handling of water quality abnormal events.

This document applies to the water administrative departments of Shenzhen City (including the Shenzhen-Shan Special Cooperation Zone) and water quality supervision and inspection agencies entrusted by them to supervise and inspect the water quality of raw water, factory water, pipeline network water, terminal pipeline water, and secondary water supply in drinking water. It shall be implemented from May 1, 2024.

8. "Shangrao City Noise Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations"

Formulated to prevent and control noise pollution, protect and improve the living environment, safeguard public health, and promote ecological civilization construction. It consists of five chapters and thirty-three articles, divided into General Provisions, Noise Pollution Prevention and Control, Supervision and Management of Noise Pollution Prevention and Control, Legal Responsibilities, and Supplementary Provisions. It shall be implemented from May 1, 2024.

9. "Huizhou City Household Waste Classification Management Measures"

These measures apply to source reduction, classified disposal, classified collection, classified transportation, classified treatment, and related management activities of urban and rural household waste within the administrative region of this city. They shall be implemented from May 1, 2024.

10. "Xianning City Urban Household Waste Classification Management Measures"

These measures apply to source reduction, classified disposal, collection, transportation, treatment, and related supervision and management activities of household waste in the following areas within the administrative region of this city. They shall be implemented from May 1, 2024.

11. "Zhongshan City Industrial Solid Waste Pollution Environment Prevention and Control Regulations"

These regulations apply to the prevention and control of industrial solid waste pollution and its supervision and management within the administrative region of this city. The prevention and control of industrial solid waste pollution of the marine environment and radioactive industrial solid waste pollution are not applicable to these regulations. If laws and regulations have other provisions on industrial solid waste management, those provisions shall prevail. They shall be implemented from May 1, 2024.