Introduction to Classification and Management Directory of Environmental Impact Assessment of Construction Projects, 2021 Revision

Classification and Management Directory of Environmental Impact Assessment of Construction Projects is the basis for the classification of environmental impact in three forms (report, report form and registration form) in Law of the People's Republic of China on Environmental Impact Assessment and Regulations on the Administration of Construction Project Environmental Protection. There have been totally seven versions until now, since the pilot version was released in 1999. The latest version is the 2021 version, which is effective from January 1, 2021. Construction units shall determine the environmental impact assessment categories of construction projects in strict accordance with the Directory, and shall not change the environmental impact assessment categories without authorization. Construction projects that are not specified in the Directory can be exempted from the EIA procedures if they are not put under management. When the construction involves two or more project categories listed in the Directory, the environmental impact assessment category shall be determined according to the highest single grade of each item.

1. Significance of the revised Directory

a. The revised Directory will implement the State Council's requirements for deepening reforms to streamline administration, to improve the business environment. It will normalize and institutionalize the pilot reform of the positive list for EIA approval.

b. It will improve the scientificalness and operability of the Directory, to resolve current problems, such as the insufficient cohesion with National Industries Classification and no scientific classifications.

c. The revised Directory will promote the establishment of an environmental governance system, and the modernization of governance capabilities. It will also strengthen the convergence between environmental assessment and pollutant discharge permit systems, as well as reduce the burden on enterprises.

 2. Ideas for revising the Directory

a. Focus on key polluting enterprises. The government will strictly control over industries that have a large environmental impact while simplify the management on the programs that have little impact on environment. The EIA approval process will be simplified for the agricultural and sideline food processing industry, food manufacturing industry, warehousing industry and so on, which is in line with the needs for improving the business environment and ensuring people's livelihood.

b. Be Scientific and reasonable. According to the National Industries Classification, the EIA category is reordered, and more than half of the industry sub-categories can be corresponded.

c. Keep it simple.

d. Work on Institutional cohesion. The Directory is connected with the pollutant discharge permit system. The EIA registration form is no longer required for construction projects registered and managed in the pollutant discharge permit directory, so as to reduce the burdens on enterprises.

3. Revision of changes in the Directory

a. The government cancels 40 EIA registration forms because of the registration management of pollution discharge permit.

b. 26 concepts of "industrial building" are introduced into the Directory.

c. The environmental impact assessment level of 51 items is reduced. For example, the catering/ entertainment/ bath places and ordinary warehouses are no longer excluded in EIA management.

d. The environmental impact assessment level of 10 items becomes stricter, such as leather/fur and its products, printing, culture and education/sports/entertainment supplies manufacturing, electronic special materials manufacturing, etc.

4. Local special regulations

There are local regulations in each province that are different from the basic national EIA regulations, and the overall trend of policies is more flexible. We should combine national and local regulations to choose the most applicable regulations according to local circumstances.

• Guangdong Province: 

List of Construction Projects Exemption from Environmental Impact Assessment Procedures in Guangdong Province (2020); Implementation date: January 1, 2021.

Management List of Approval and Filing of Environmental Impact Assessment of Environmental Impact Assessment of Construction Projects in Shenzhen (2021); Implementation date: January 1, 2021.

• Zhejiang Province: 

Catalogue of the Fifth Batch of Construction Projects Not Included in the Environmental Impact Assessment Approval of Zhejiang Province; Implementation date: August 3, 2020.

Guiding Opinions of the General Office of the People's Government of Zhejiang Province on the Comprehensive Implementation of the Reform of "Regional EIA + Environmental Standards"; Implementation date: June 29, 2017

• Beijing City: 

Beijing Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Classification Management List of Environmental Impact Assessment of Construction Projects (2019); Implementation date: January 1, 2020.

• Shanghai City: 

Implementation Suggestions on Strengthening the Linkage of Environmental Impact Assessment for Planning and Construction Projects (Trial); Implementation date: June 04, 2019.

• Fujian Province: 

Regulations on Graded Approval and Administration of Environmental Impact Assessment Documents for Construction Projects; Implementation date: July 08, 2014.

• Jiangxi Province: 

Jiangxi Province Environmental Impact Assessment Free Management And Construction Project Catalogue (Trial); Implementation date: June 16, 2019.

FOR ENQUIRIES：

Ms Calla Huang
t: +86 (0) 755 2532 8137
e: cn.rbs@sgs.com

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