New vehicle fuel standards were introduced in Beijing yesterday in a bid to ensure the "green Olympics" China has promised.

From now on, all gasoline and diesel sold in the capital must meet the new China IV standards, which are equivalent to the European Union's Euro IV standards, Du Shaozhong, deputy director of the Beijing environmental protection bureau, said.

According to official figures, since their introduction at the end of 2005, the China III standards have helped reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide from cars by 2,480 tons a year.

The new standards will cut such emissions by a further 1,840 tons, the bureau said.