'Green' products should enjoy priority in government procurement by state organs, public service units and organizations, or financial authorities may refuse to pay the budget, according to a Beijing Times report today.

China's first 'Green List' for government procurement covering 14 industries and ranging from autos, printing, TVs and furniture was made public yesterday jointly by the Ministry of Finance and State Administration of Environmental Protection (SEPA). 

A Ministry of Finance official said that if such indices as function, technology and service are the same, governments at all levels should first consider products on the "Green List" which have passed the national environmental labeling certification. "Financial authorities may refuse to pay the budget if the purchaser or the entrusted organization does not procure according to the rules," the official added.

For government car procurement, the Ministry and SEPA chose nine brands including Peugeot, Citron of Dongfeng Motor, NISSAN, A6 and A4 series of Audi, Bora, Jetta, Caddy and Hyundai while the once major force in government cars "Santana" wasn't selected.

A SEPA official said that "green procurement" would be implemented next year and first by central and provincial government departments. It would be promoted nationwide from 2008.

Details of the "Green List" can be found on the official government procurement website www.ccgp.gov.cn.

(China.org.cn by Zhang Yunxing, November 17, 2006)