Green standards issued for rare earths

BEIJING - Environmental standards governing the production of rare earths, specifically concerning pollutants, were issued on Monday to ensure the sector's sustainable development.

The standards, which come into force on Oct 1, set strict emission limits possibly affecting at least 60 percent of companies in the industry and could lead to consolidation in the sector, industry sources said.

Rare earths, composed of 17 elements, are used in a number of high-tech industries ranging from wind turbines and hybrid cars to missiles. China produces 97 percent of the global supply of the minerals, with reserves accounting for only 36 percent of the world's total.