China tightening emissions rules for rubber industry

Beijing – China's ministry of ecology and environment has released a draft revision of the country's air pollutant emission standard for the rubber products industry, proposing tighter emission limits, broader coverage and new pollution control requirements.

In a 14 July statement, China Rubber Industry Association (CRIA) said it was a ‘participating unit’ in the standard revision, adding that it was publicly “soliciting opinions and suggestions from the entire industry”.

According CRIA, the proposed standard would apply to eight manufacturing sectors, covering tire production, rubber sheet, pipe and belt manufacturing, rubber parts, reclaimed rubber, daily-use and medical rubber products, sports field plastics, other rubber products, and rubber footwear.

Compared with the 2011 standard, CRIA said, the revised draft expands the scope of application, adds new air pollutant emission control items and control processes and tightens concentration limits for “organised emissions."

The proposal also removes requirements relating to baseline exhaust volumes for organised emissions; adds new requirements for the control of fugitive emissions; strengthens air pollutant monitoring requirements; and clarifies the basis for determining compliance with emission standards.

CRIA said the revised standard is intended to ensure its requirements are "scientifically sound, aligned with actual industry production and fully feasible", while promoting the "green, low-carbon, compliant and high-quality development" of China's rubber industry.

CRIA has invited companies to study the draft in full and submit written comments by 12 Aug.