Law on Air Pollution Prevention and Control, 2016 (People's Republic of China)

The Law is formulated for the purpose of protecting and improving the environment, preventing and controlling air pollution, safeguarding public health, promoting the ecological infrastructure development, and facilitating sustainable economic and society growth. The law mandates:

• Treating emissions at their sources
• Prioritizing planning processes
• Transforming economic development
• Optimizing industrial structure and distribution
• Adjusting energy structures to prevent and control air pollution

The Law contains chapters on:

• Air Pollution Prevention and Control Standards and Attainment Plans to Achieve Them Within Allotted Time
• Supervision and Administration of Air Pollution Prevention and Control
• Air Pollution Prevention and Control Measures
• Joint Air Pollution and Control in Key Regions
• Counter Measures to Heavy Pollution Episodes

In terms of air pollution prevention and control, the Law provides the measures for pollution from coal and other energy sources, industrial pollution, pollution from motor vehicles, vessels and other non-road mobile sources, fugitive dust pollution, and pollution from agriculture and other sources. Moreover, the law imposes legal liabilities for acts in violation of the law and imposes penalties ranging from fines, suspension or shutdown of the violating entity, without prejudice for criminal prosecution for acts constituting a crime.