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BIZCHINA / Center
NPC to discuss law on circular economy
By Sun Xiaohua (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-08-18 10:01
Lawmakers will discuss the country's first law to put into effect the
circular economy initiative on August 24.
The Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC), the
top legislature, announced on Friday it would hold its 29th meeting from
August 24 to 30, during which the draft of the circular economy law would
be discussed for the first time.
The circular economy law provides a legal framework for developing the
economy, raising energy efficiency, protecting the environment and
realizing a sustainable development.
Qian Yi, professor of the environmental science and engineering
department of Tsinghua University, said the circular law would be
different from the draft energy conservation law and the Law on the
Promotion of Cleaner Production, whose targets are overlapping to save
energy and protect the environment.
"The new law requires all the links from production to consumption to
follow the rules of the circular economy," she said.
The circular economy changes the traditional linear way of material flow,
raising eco-efficiency based on the 3R principle - reduction, reuse and
recycle.
According to the draft, it will raise standards in resource reduction,
safe waste disposal, industrial production, mineral resource
exploitation, construction, agriculture, governmental practice, urban
domestic consumption, and the service sector.
Mao Rubai, chairman of the NPC's Environmental and Resources Protection
Committee, earlier told China Daily that "some detailed mandatory
requirements have been written into the draft, making the law easy to
implement".
The draft requires the government to allocate special funds for
supporting technological research, key projects, education, capacity
building and the establishment of an information network.
Incentives, such as favorable tax and investment policies, will also be
offered to organizations that take an active role in China's circular
economy, according to the draft.
Violators could face a fine of up to 500,000 yuan ($66,000).
(China Daily 08/18/2007 page2)
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