China's environment ministry seeks comment on draft e-waste rules and hazardous waste permit rules

BEIJING, Oct 26 — China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) on Oct 26 opened public comment on draft revisions to rules on recycling and processing waste electrical and electronic products and on hazardous waste business permits, with comments due by Nov 25, 2026.¹

The ministry said in a letter from its General Office that it drafted the revisions to implement the requirements of the Ecological Environment Code of the People's Republic of China, adapt to the needs of the industry, and further regulate both areas.¹

Under the draft regulation on waste electrical and electronic products, units and individuals that process such waste without a processing qualification would be ordered to cease business or close, have illegal gains confiscated and be fined $7,500 (50,000 yuan) to $75,000 (500,000 yuan).²

That draft says city-level ecology and environment departments would decide on qualification applications within 60 days of receiving complete materials.² Processing companies would keep basic processing data for no less than three years.²

The draft hazardous waste permit measures set a validity of five years for a comprehensive permit for collection, storage, utilization and disposal, and three years for a collection permit.³

Under that draft, utilization and disposal operations that breach the rules on re-applying for or renewing permits would face fines of $150,000 (1 million yuan) to $750,000 (5 million yuan).³ The draft also bans importing electronic hazardous waste from outside China or moving it through China in transit.³

Agencies, organisations, companies and individuals may submit written comments, the ministry said.¹ Neither draft gives an effective date.²

The hazardous waste permit measures were first issued on May 30, 2004, under State Council Decree No. 408, and were revised on Dec 7, 2013 and Feb 6, 2016, according to the draft.³