China mulls accountability system on marine environment protection

BEIJING - Chinese lawmakers are deliberating a draft revision to the Marine Environment Protection Law with new provisions on adopting accountability and assessment mechanisms.

The draft revision was submitted on Monday to the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, for a second reading. The first reading took place in December 2022.

Officials of local governments that failed to meet marine environment protection targets will be held accountable and required to take rectifying measures, said the draft.

Entities or individuals involved in activities that could affect the marine environment should take steps to prevent or mitigate pollution or environmental damage, according to the draft.

The document also seeks to strengthen pollution control at outfalls and ban the discharge of radioactive wastewater into the ocean. A monitoring system for marine debris will be established, it said.