China has introduced more stringent emission control standards for motorbikes nationwide in a bid to have cleaner air.

The new exhaust standard is a revision of a 1993 ruling, which failed to meet the current environmental protection demand, China Daily quoted Luo Yi, vice-director of the Science and Technology Department of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) as saying.

SEPA wants motorbikes to meet Euro II emission levels by next year and keep pace with the world's highest standard by 2006.

As motorbikes are significant contributors to air pollution, the science authority will continue to give technological support to develop a more environmentally friendly machine, focusing on emission control equipment.

Experts say some amendments to existing motorbikes will help them meet the new standard.

A motorbike pollution prevention policy document, highlighting the use of technology to cut emissions, was released Friday. In addition to outlining China's bid to reduce motorbike emissions, it briefed producers on the technology required to meet the new standard and the decommissioning of defective vehicles.

(Xinhua News Agency March 1, 2003)