China on Friday published a regulation to enforce environmental impact assessments  on new projects from October, in an effort to prevent pollution or ecological destruction from the beginning.

According to the regulation, approved on Aug. 12 by the State Council, the Cabinet, environmental evaluations are required before the planning of development projects being approved.

Under the regulation, environmental evaluation of city-level projects will be conducted by local environmental authorities while provincial projects must be evaluated by environmental authorities under the State Council.

The regulation covers all development activities, from land use and the development of rivers or oceans, to development projects related to industrial, agricultural, husbandry, and forestry sectors as well as energy, water conservation, transportation, urban construction, tourism, and exploration of natural resources.

(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2009)