China's Ministry of Environmental Protection has issued two circulars which require environmental labels be adopted for all vehicles.
According to the circulars, for automobiles that pass the regular environmental inspection, gasoline automobiles conforming to National I level or above and diesel-powered automobiles that reach the National III standard or above will be issued a green environmental label, and the other automobiles will be given a yellow environmental label. In addition, from June 1, 2009, automobile owners from other cities shall apply for an automobile emission certificate and environmental label in their own city before coming to Beijing.
MEP said it would conduct an inspection on the issue of environmental labels in each of the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities to make sure the requirements in circulars are carried out.
Beijing has made June 1 to August 31, 2009, an interim period for the non-Beijing vehicles. The circular says that starting from September 1, 2009, non-Beijing vehicles without an environmental label must not enter Beijing. Until October 1, 2009, those that have a yellow environment label must not drive inside Beijing's Fifth Ring Road, and thereafter must not enter the city's Sixth Ring Road.
The circulars state that it is important for regions to take joint action to improve air quality. To this end, MEP will work with six regions, including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, and Shandong, on making a regional air pollution control plan and environment management policy to promote the improvement of the air quality in these regions.
