Environmental Code Draft Revised to Strengthen Green Design and Producer Responsibility

It was learned from a presidium meeting of the 4th Session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on March 10 that the NPC Constitution and Law Committee has proposed revising the draft Environmental Code to explicitly require that the design of electrical, electronic and motor vehicle products should "strengthen the source reduction and substitution of harmful substances", in response to suggestions from NPC deputies.

At the second meeting of the presidium of the 4th Session of the 14th NPC held on the morning of March 10, the director of the NPC Constitution and Law Committee delivered a report on the results of the deliberation on the draft Environmental Code.

The report pointed out that the draft already included provisions on the green design of products. Some deputies suggested enhancing the green design of electrical, electronic, motor vehicle and other products to reduce the content of harmful substances from the source. After research, the NPC Constitution and Law Committee recommended adopting this suggestion and revising the corresponding clause of the draft.

The revised clause stipulates that the design of electrical, electronic, motor vehicle and other products shall take into account their impact on human health and the ecological environment throughout their life cycle, give priority to non-toxic, harmless, easily degradable or recyclable schemes, and strengthen the source reduction and substitution of harmful substances in accordance with national regulations.

In addition, the draft also contains provisions requiring producers of electrical, electronic, motor vehicle, lead-acid battery, power battery and other products to establish a recycling system for waste products. Some deputies proposed further strengthening the extended producer responsibility and clarifying that producers should fulfill their recycling and utilization obligations.

In response, the NPC Constitution and Law Committee revised the phrase "achieve effective recycling and utilization" in the corresponding clause of the draft to "fulfill the responsibility of recycling and utilization" after research, so as to further clarify the obligations of producers in the recycling and utilization of waste products.

The revisions to the draft Environmental Code fully reflect the opinions of NPC deputies and focus on addressing key issues in environmental protection, which is of great significance for promoting green production, reducing environmental pollution and advancing the construction of an ecological civilization.