China’s first ever soil protection law

On Jan 01, 2019, China’s Soil Pollution Prevention and Control Law (the “Soil Law”) came into effect after it had been passed by the National People’s Congress (NPC) in August 2018. It is the very first law to systematically regulate soil pollution prevention and control in China. Before that, soil related legislations were scattered in various laws, policies and regulations of different authorities, with conflicting priorities and limited coordination among each other. The new soil law filled up this legal void. Highlights of the law include the requirements to conduct a nationwide soil condition consensus at least once every ten years and to establish a nationwide soil monitoring network. In addition, it includes a set of new mechanisms to punish polluters as well as financial incentives for soil pollution prevention. Read more