The Circular Economy Promotion Law of the People¡¯s Republic of China, which was adopted at the 4th session of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People¡¯s Congress of the People¡¯s Republic of China on August 29, 2008, is hereby promulgated and shall come into force on January 1, 2009.
President of the People¡¯s Republic of China: Hu Jintao
August 29, 2008
Circular Economy Promotion Law of the People¡¯s Republic of China
(adopted at the 4th session of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People¡¯s Congress of the People¡¯s Republic of China)
Chapter I General Principles
Chapter II Basic Management Rules
Chapter III Reduction
Chapter IV Reusing and Recycling
Chapter V Incentive Measures
Chapter VI Legal Liabilities
Chapter VII Supplementary Provisions
Chapter I General Principles
Article 1 This Law is formulated for the purpose of promoting the development of the circular economy, improving the resource utilization efficiency, protecting and improving the environment and realizing sustainable development.
Article 2 The term ¡°circular economy¡± as mentioned in these Measures is a generic term for the reducing, reusing and recycling activities conducted in the process of production, circulation and consumption.
The term ¡°reducing¡± as mentioned in these Measures refers to reducing the consumption of resources and the production of wastes in the process of production, circulation and consumption.
The term ¡°reusing¡± as mentioned in these Measures refers to using wastes as products directly, using wastes after repair, renewal or reproduction or using part or all wastes as components of other products.
The term ¡°recycling¡± as mentioned in these Measures refers to using wastes as raw materials directly or after regeneration.
Article 3 Developing a circular economy is an important strategy for the economic and social development of the state. It requires making overall plans, making reasonable layouts, adjusting measures to local conditions and focusing on actual effect. The development of a circular economy shall be propelled by the government, led by the market, effected by enterprises and participated in by the public.
Article 4 The development of a circular economy shall follow the principle of giving priority to reduction under the precondition of being technically feasible, economically rational and good for saving resources.
In the process of reutilizing and recycling wastes, production safety shall be guaranteed so as to ensure that product quality satisfy the state standards and prevent the secondary pollution.
Article 5 The administrative department of circular economy development under the State Council shall take charge of coordinating and supervising the development of the circular economy of the whole nation. The environmental protection department and other competent departments under the State Council shall take charge of the corresponding supervisory and administrative work of the circular economy according to their respective duties and functions.
The administrative department of the development of the circular economy of a local people¡¯s government at or above the county level shall take charge of coordinating and supervising the development of the circular economy of the administrative region, while the environmental protection department and other competent departments under the local people¡¯s government shall take charge of the corresponding supervisory and administrative work of the circular economy according to their respective duties and functions.
Article 6 The state shall work out industrial policies in accordance with the requirements for the development of a circular economy.
The people¡¯s governments at or above the county level shall cover the development of circular economy when working out their national economic and social development plans and annual plans, so shall the relevant departments thereunder when working out environmental protection plans and scientific and technological development plans.
Article 7 The state encourages and supports the research, development and promotion of science and technology relating to circular economy, and encourages the publicity and education of circular economy, the popularization of scientific knowledge about and international cooperation in the development of circular economy.
Article 8 The people¡¯s governments at or above the county level shall set up an objective responsibility system for the development of circular economy and take such measures as planning, finance, investment and government procurement to promote the development of circular economy.
Article 9 Enterprises and public institutions shall set up management systems and take measures to reduce the consumption of resources, reduce the production and discharge of wastes and improve the reutilization and recycling level of wastes.
Article 10 Citizens shall enhance their awareness of resources conservation and protecting the environment, consume resources in a reasonable way and save resources.
The state encourages and guides citizens to use products that save energy, water, and materials as well as environment-friendly products and recycled products so as to reduce the production and discharge of wastes.
Citizens have the right to report acts of wasting resources and damaging the environment, and have the right to access to government information about the development of circular economy and propose their opinions and suggestions.
Article 11 The state encourages industrial associations to play the roles of technical guidance and service in the development of circular economy. The people¡¯s governments at or above the county level may entrust qualified industrial associations or other social organizations to provide public services which promote the development of circular economy.
The state encourages agencies, societies and other social organizations to engage in the publicity, technical promotion and consultancy service of circular economy so as to promote the development of circular economy.
