New vehicle emission standards that went into effect Thursday across China
are the equivalent of Euro II standards and apply to light-duty vehicles, mainly
cars.
Authorities say the move is a further push to crack down on pollution caused
by automobile emissions across the country.
All new types of light-duty automobiles must meet the new standards.
Environmental officials say that most currently produced cars in China meet
the standards.
They attribute the encouraging situation to a publicity drive conducted as
early as 2001 by the State Environmental Protection Administration.
A 30 per cent consumption tax reduction has been awarded to manufacturers
whose vehicles have met the standards, which also helped encourage
manufacturers.
In another development, the administration has charted emission standards
that are equivalent to Euro III standards, said vice minister of the
administration Wang Jirong.
It is expected that China will adopt the Euro III-level standards by 2008.
Beijing will adopt that standards even earlier, likely by 2005, said Zhang
Lijun, head of the administration's pollution control division.
Beijing, which has the largest number of vehicles on its roadways in the
country, began implementing the Euro II standards at the beginning of last year.
Wang said the State Council has agreed to continue the tax reductions for
vehicles that meet Euro III standards ahead of time.
Before the newly adopted standards, China had adopted emission levels in 2000
equalling Euro I standards.
Compared to the old levels, the new standards stipulate that carbon monoxide
emissions must be 30.4 per cent lower and hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide
discharges must be 55.8 per cent lower.
After a one-year transitional period, manufactured and imported vehicles that
have been approved that only meet Euro I standards will have to end production
or import by June 30, 2005.
Beginning on July 1 of next year, sales and registration of such automobiles
must also stop.
Wang said a series of measures will be taken to control automobile emissions
in China.
The administration has completed draft regulations on the supervision and
management of vehicle emissions controls. The draft is being submitted to the
State Council.
Efforts are also being made to improve the quality of fuel in China, Wang
said.
China has become the world's fourth largest automobile producer and third
largest consumer of cars.
The country produces 4.45 million automobiles a year and there are more than
24 million automobiles running across the country.
While the air quality in 70 per cent of the country's cities are not good
enough, sources with the administration said.
It is estimated that vehicle emissions will account for 79 per cent of air
pollution in cities.
