Law on Environmental Impacts Assessment was enacted in 2002 and will enter into force on September 1, 2003.

Law on EIA aims to prevent negative impact caused by the implementation of programme planning and construction projects and to improve the harmonious development of economy, social and environment in order to realize sustainable development strategy.

It is stipulated that EIA report should be an integrated part of programme planning and constructive projects? documents.

EIA report of programme planning should be submitted to planning approval authorities, and EIA studies on construction project should be submitted to EPBs with the authorities to approve before the implementation of the project which will then give or refuse construction permits.

1. Formulating general and specific policies, laws and regulations, and administrative rules and regulations; conducting Environmental Impact Assessment entrusted by the State Council on major economic and technical policies, development programs and major economic development plans; formulating national environmental protection programs; organizing the formulation and supervision of pollution prevention plans and ecological conservation plans in key regions and river basins identified by the Central Government; and formulating environmental zoning programs.

2. Formulating and organizing the implementation of laws, rules and regulations on pollution prevention of air, water, soil, noise, solid wastes, toxic chemicals and vehicle emission; and guiding, coordinating and supervising marine environmental protection.

3. Supervising the development and utilization activities of natural resources that impact natural environment, major eco-environmental construction work and rehabilitation of ecological damages; supervising and inspecting the environmental protection in various kinds of nature reserves, scenic spots and forest parks; supervising and inspecting bio-diversity conservation, wild life and species conservation, wetland environmental protection, and desertification combating; proposing recommendations to the State Council on approving new national nature reserves of various kinds; and supervising the management of national nature reserves.

4. Guiding and coordinating major environmental problems in local regions, departments and cross-regions and cross river basin regions; looking into and handling major environmental pollution accidents and ecological damages; coordinating inter-provincial environmental pollution disputes; organizing and coordinating pollution prevention in key national river basins; in charge of environmental supervision and inspection; organizing national inspection on environmental enforcement.

5. Formulating national standards of environmental quality and pollutant discharge, releasing the standards in due procedures determined by the central government; in charge of filing standards of local environmental protection; reviewing the environmental protection component of urban development master plans; organizing the formulation of national environmental quality reports; releasing national bulletin on environmental status; releasing information on the status of environmental quality in key cities and river basins on a periodic base; and participating in formulating national outline of sustainable development

.6. Formulating the regulatory regime of environmental management and organizing its implementation; approving EIA reports of the development and construction activities; guiding comprehensive environmental treatment; in charge of rural eco-environmental protection; and guiding the establishment of ecological demonstration zones and ecological agriculture in the entire country.

7. Organizing researches and development, and technical demonstration projects of environmental protection; setting up and organizing the implementation of certification regime of qualification for environmental protection; and guiding and promoting the development of environmental industries.

8. Responsible for environmental monitoring, statistics, and information; formulating environmental monitoring system and norms; organizing establishment and management of national environmental monitoring network and national environmental information network; organizing supervision on monitoring of environmental quality and pollution sources in the entire country; organizing, guiding and coordinating environmental promotion and education, and publishing work; and promoting the participation of the public and NGOs.

9. Drawing up basic national principles on global environmental issues; administrating international cooperation and exchanges on environment; involved in coordinating important international environmental activities; participating in negotiation of international environmental conventions; acting as focal point of managing, organizing and coordinating the implementation activities of international conventions in China; administrating foreign economic cooperation in the environmental protection system; coordinating and implementing relevant overseas funded projects; handling international affairs of environmental protection entrusted by the State Council; and responsible for liaison with international environmental organization.

10. Responsible for the management of nuclear safety, radiation environmental and radioactive wastes, and drawing up relevant general and specific policies, laws, rules and regulations, and standards; involved in emergency response work of nuclear accidents and radiation environmental accidents; conducting integrated supervision and management on pollution prevention of the safety of nuclear facilities, electromagnetism radiation, nuclear technology application, and the development and utilization of mineral resources with radiation; carrying out safety monitoring on the control of nuclear materials and pressure-bearing nuclear facilities.

The Administrative Center for China’s Agenda 21

1. The People’s Republic of China’s Agenda 21 was finalized and adopted by the State Council on 25 March1994.
2. Aims to solve pressing problems associated with population, natural resources, environment and development confronting the country.
3. A flexible approach is to be adopted in implementing the Priority Programmes in order to accommodate the  interests of the international partners.