The State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) has decided to launch a campaign for national environmentally friendly firms as part of China's efforts to take a new industrialization road.

The campaign is designed to set up enterprise models for good economic effects, rational resource utilization, clean production environment in complete harmony with the environment. It turns the relationships between the authorities and the firms from one of control to one of cooperation. The firms that discharge pollutants are encouraged to cut on their own the amount of pollutants emitted, thanks to the campaign.

SEPA sets strict criteria for the environment, management and product. It covers observation of relevant environmental protection laws, decrees and standards, clean production and a complete system of environmental management. The model firms will have to meet the standards for production safety, hygiene and quality and do not use substances that are forbidden by relevant laws, decrees and standards and international conventions China signed. The product must meet the certified standards.

All industrial firms may apply for the title from provincial environmental protection administrations. They will be given the title after SEPA experts investigate the case on spot.

(www.cenews.com.cn July 1, 2003)