Since the Eighteenth Session of the Governing Council of UNEP adopted its decision 18/32 in May, 1995 concerning POPs, the Government of China attaches great importance to the 12 POPs at the initial stage.
For a long time China's economy has been dominated by agriculture. Due to the need of agricultural production, a large amount of such persistent organic chlorine agricultural chemicals and other chemicals belonging to POPs were produced and used. Despite the great efforts made by relevant departments of the Chinese government to control the environmental pollution caused by POPs, there is no systematic summary or collection of data or materials related to the production, import and export of POPs and their harm to the environment and human health. This is mainly due to historical reasons. Most of the data and materials were distributed in different research reports on different principles produced in the different ages. This situation severely impedes the environment department from exercising effective management over POPs. Currently the National Environmental Protection Agency of China, (NEPA), together with other relevant departments, is conducting an extensive survey on production, import and export and environmental and ecological impacts of 12 POPs. This is also the case for domestic and international regulations related to the management of POPs which will provide a basis for recommendations for the management and decision-making regarding POPs in China. This survey is expected to be completed next year.
The following information is available now:
1. PCBs and preparations containing PCBs, of which the content is higher than 0.01% by weight, have been severely restricted in China. Production and import have been prohibited without the approval of the Government of China since August 11, 1979.
2. Dioxins and furans come mainly from impurities and byproducts of Chemicals. To prevent snail fever, China produces pentachlorophenol and sodium pentachlorophenate. Relevant studies show that the agricultural chemicals of this kind contain PCDDs and PCDFs. It has been our constant position that China prohibits production and import of PCDDs and PCDFs.