Featured Coverage
NPC 2026: A First Look at China’s New Environmental Code
The Code addresses new types of pollution and climate change, while weakening public interest litigation and maintaining a fragmented conservation framework.
Ecological and Environmental Code of the People’s Republic of China
中华人民共和国生态环境法典
[Current Text: Chinese only]
(adopted Mar. 12, 2026, effective Aug. 15, 2026)
- Status: Passed
- Legislative Body (Vote): NPC (2752–7–3)
- Primary Drafters: NPCSC Legislative Affairs Commission et al.
- Initial Submitter: Council of Chairpersons
- Laws Repealed
- Environmental Protection Law [环境保护法]
- Environmental Impact Assessment Law [环境影响评价法]
- Marine Environmental Protection Law [海洋环境保护法]
- Law on the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution [大气污染防治法]
- Law on the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution [水污染防治法]
- Law on the Prevention and Control of Soil Pollution [土壤污染防治法]
- Law on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Wastes [固体废物污染环境防治法]
- Law on the Prevention and Control of Noise Pollution [噪声污染防治法]
- Law on the Prevention and Control of Radioactive Pollution [放射性污染防治法]
- Cleaner Production Promotion Law [清洁生产促进法]
- Legislative Plans
- Five-year: 14th NPCSC Category I
- Annual: 2024, 2025
- Legislative History & Text
- NPC deliberation (entire Code) – final round: Mar. 5–12, 2026 (Current Text 🔝)
- NPCSC deliberation (entire Code) – round #3: Dec. 22–27, 2025 (Chinese only) 💬
- NPCSC deliberation (Part V) – round #2: Oct. 24–28, 2025 (Chinese only) 💬
- NPCSC deliberation (Part II) – round #2: Oct. 24–28, 2025 (Chinese only) 💬
- NPCSC deliberation (Part IV) – round #2: Sept. 8–12, 2025 (Chinese only) 💬
- NPCSC deliberation (Part III) – round #2: Sept. 8–12, 2025 (Chinese only) 💬
- NPCSC deliberation (Part I) – round #2: Sept. 8–12, 2025 (Chinese only) 💬
- NPCSC deliberation (entire Code) – round #1: Apr. 27 – 30, 2025 (Chinese only: PDF | HTML) 💬
- Legislative Records
- NPCSC Stage
- Explanation (entire Code) (Apr. 27, 2025)
- Report on Status of Revision (Part I) (Sept. 8, 2025)
- Report on Status of Revision (Part III) (Sept. 8, 2025)
- Report on Status of Revision (Part IV) (Sept. 8, 2025)
- Report on Status of Revision (Part II) (Oct. 24, 2025)
- Report on Status of Revision (Part V) (Oct. 24, 2025)
- Report on Status of Revision (entire Code) (Dec. 22, 2025)
- NPC Stage
- Explanation (pending)
- Report on Results of Deliberation (pending)
- Report on Suggestions for Revision (pending)
- Presidential Order (Mar. 12, 2026)
- NPCSC Stage
NPC Observer Coverage
- NPC 2026: A First Look at China’s New Environmental Code (Mar. 11, 2026)
- 📰 October 2025: Neighborhood Party (Nov. 18, 2025)
- NPCSC Session Watch: Cybersecurity, Environmental Tax, Bankruptcy, Arbitration & Mandarin Chinese Promotion (Aug. 26, 2025)
- NPCSC Session Watch: Environmental Code, Private Sector Promotion, Arbitration, Enforcement of Prison Sentences & National Development Planning (Apr. 18, 2025)
- 📰 February 2025: Updates on NPC Delegates’ 2024 Legislative Proposals (Mar. 4, 2025)
- The NPC and the 2024 Third Plenum Decision (July 31, 2024)
- 📰 January 2024: Update on Legislative Proposals Introduced by NPC Delegates in 2023 (Feb. 14, 2024)
Last updated: March 13, 2026, 15:24 EDT