Environmental Protection Act Revised for First Time in 25 Years

The third sessions of the 12th National People’s Congress (NPC) and the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) are currently being held in Beijing. General assembly members proposed to revise the Environmental Protection Act. This is the first time the Law has been revised in 25 years.

China’s environmental law was passed as a trial in 1979, and it was formally enacted in 1989. Since 30 years of the reform and opening up, China’s economy has made great achievements. However, at the same, the growing economy activities also negatively affected China’s environmental condition. The existing environmental laws have not adapted to China’s current economic development.

On March 8, China’s National People’s Congress Chairman Zhang Dejiang said, by standing Committee in-depth research and fully listening to people’s voices, after four time deliberations, the conference committee would completely revise the Environmental Protection Act since its enactment in December 1989.