Law on circular economy in pipeline
By Fei Li (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-03-11 05:51

A law on the circular economy may make it onto the legislative agenda next year, an official involved in the process said yesterday in Beijing.

"With help from the Environmental and Resources Protection Committee of the NPC, we have finished the necessary investigation and research into the planned law and will soon submit a proposal to the State Council's Legislative Affairs Office," said Zhou Changyi, deputy director of the Environment and Resources Utilization Department of the National Development and Reform Commission, the cabinet's top economic policy-maker.

"But time is too tight to put this proposed law on this year's legislative agenda, it will be on the agenda next year if nothing goes awry," said Zhou.

He was speaking at a working meeting on the sidelines of the on-going session of the CPPCC National Committee, the country's top advisory body.

The meeting, organized by CPPCC's Committee on Handling the Proposals, included CPPCC members and parties who have submitted proposals on the circular economy and officials from relevant government departments to which such proposals are referred.

Promoting the circular economy and a conservation-minded society are some of the hot topics at this year's full session of the 10th National Committee of the CPPCC.

"The proposals on the circular economy submitted by the members and parties have increased dramatically over the past two years," said Song Baorui, deputy director of the CPPCC Committee on Handling Proposals, without giving specific numbers.

"Most of those proposals suggest speeding up legislation work to spur the development of the circular economy," said Song.

"Currently, there is a lack of overall legal framework covering the circular economy in terms of laws and rules," acknowledged Zhou.

"So we will work hard to work out, as soon as possible, the proposed law," Zhou said.

There do exist some laws concerning resource conservation in China such as the energy-saving law, but none of which is comprehensive enough to deal with the development of the circular economy, a concept that has been gaining momentum in the country since last year.

"The development of the circular economy needs strong legal backing," said CPPCC National Committee member Yu Zhen who has submitted a proposal. "Laws (on circular economy) should be made to clearly define the roles of government, enterprise and the citizen in developing the circular economy."

"The proposed law on promotion of the circular economy is of vital importance and therefore it should be worked out soon," said Liu Zhao, an official from Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council, China's cabinet.

"But we still have not accepted the formal legislative motion from the National Development and Reform Commission, which is in charge of that proposed bill," said Liu.

"Though we have wrapped up the initial legislative investigation and research into the planned bill, we have not began the drafting process yet," added Zhou.

Close

Today's Top News     Top China News
Farming sets goals to raise productivity         HK Chief Executive Tung offers to resign         Steps to narrow rich-poor gap needed         Peninsula likely to top Rice's first visit         First private airline takes off today         Money talks in capturing drug suspect	Farming sets goals to raise productivity       Loans for agriculture       Reform changes farmers' lives       HK Chief Executive Tung offers to resign       Migrant workers miss out on cultural experiences       First private airline takes off today