BEIJING - Shanghai is planning to implement a harsher vehicle emission regulation starting next year in an effort to curb the city's air pollution, a senior environmental official said Sunday.

The move is part of a collection of air control measures rolled out by the Shanghai Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau to improve air quality and cut PM2.5 -- fine particulate matter 2.5 microns or less in diameter, said Zhang Quan, director of the bureau.

Zhang, a deputy of the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature, said the new standard is equivalent to the Euro 5 emission standard applied to passenger and light vehicles in EU member countries.

He said other regulations include speeding up the elimination of old vehicles and strengthening overhaul and maintenance on vehicles in use.

Shanghai's decision for a new emission standard came shortly after Beijing ushered in a similar regulation last month.

Beijing's economic planning agency announced on February 24 that the city will lead other provinces in the country to introduce the tighter National 5 vehicle emission standard, also equivalent to Euro 5, this year.

China's Cabinet, the State Council, on Wednesday passed revised air quality standards, which include an index for the concentration of PM2.5, which are considered more hazardous to health than larger particles.

Zhang said Shanghai's PM2.5 particles are mainly from vehicle emissions and discharges from power plants and industrial boilers.

Zhang is in Beijing to participate in the annual session of the NPC.