As of January 1, 2019, the Soil Pollution Prevention Law of the People’s Republic of China will come into effect. The law is referred to as the most stringent soil protection law in history and will adopt the most rigorous system for protecting the environment and punishing illegal acts.
After the law comes into force, the following agricultural actions will be subject to penalties:
1. Irregular treatment of agricultural waste: During agricultural production, the waste packaging of fertilizers and agricultural membranes must be forwarded to dedicated institutions for pollution-free treatment. In case of violation by individual farmers, a fine of Yuan200 to 2,000 shall be levied. In case of violation by business entities, a fine of Yuan10,000 to 100,000 shall be levied.
2. Discharge of toxic and hazardous substances on farmland: Discharging heavy metals or other materials containing excessive amounts of hazardous substances, such as sewage, sludge and slags, which will cause damage to soil, will incur a fine of over Yuan100,000 for less serious cases, and responsible persons shall be detained for serious cases. For violations that cause serious consequences, a fine up to Yuan2 million shall be levied.
3. Using polluted land for reclamation: Land reclamation can benefit sustainable agricultural production, but land polluted by heavy metals, prohibited pesticides and domestic waste must not be used for reclamation. In case of any violation, a fine over Yuan100,000 shall be levied.
Source: Agropages
Image source: “Chinese flag” by Philip Jägenstedt is marked with CC BY 2.0.
