Energy Efficiency in China

Last Updated:	2004-10-06
Report Contents
-   Summary -   Additional Marking Requirements -   Operational Details -   Laws & Regulations -   Contacts

Introduction

In the area of energy efficiency, China has adopted a number of laws and technical standards to promote energy conservation in a variety of industry sectors. The fundamental legal measures for such efforts are contained in the Energy Conservation Law , which is the legal basis for all other energy-efficiency related requirements and voluntary initiatives in China.

Defined Restrictions:
Energy Conservation Law

The Energy Conservation Law was enacted by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress November 1, 1997 and effective as of January 1, 1998. It covers all products consuming energy.

According to the Law, companies are obligated not to use products and equipment listed in the Catalogue of Outdated Production Capacities, Processes and Products to Be Eliminated, described in the Restriction of Substances section of the China Country Page.

The Law also indicates that China encourages the import of “energy-saving” technologies and equipment, and forbids the importation of backward, energy-intensive technologies, equipment and materials.

Information we have received indicates that the Environmental Protection and Resource Conservation Committee of the National People’s Congress plans to revise this Law prior to 2008. Certain economic incentives and disincentives to promote energy conservation may be introduced in the revised Law.



Management Methods on Energy Efficiency Labeling

The Methods were jointly issued by the State Development Reform Commission (“SDRC”) and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (“AQSIQ”) August 13, 2004, and will be effective March 1, 2005. Currently, Batch I of the Catalogue of Products Subject to Energy Efficiency Labels and a set of implementing measures, including new energy efficiency standards and energy efficiency label specifications of labels, are being developed. The following are key aspects of the Methods:

• Covered products shall be labeled on conspicuous parts of the individual products or on the individual product packaging, and indicated in the product instruction books


• The official name of the energy efficiency label is the “China Energy Label.” The label shall include the name of the producer, the product brand, the degree of energy efficiency, the energy consumption volume, and the China energy efficiency standards referenced to determine the product’s degree of energy efficiency. The specifications for the actual label (i.e., how the label should appear) will be promulgated separately


• Producers or importers of covered products undertake their own product testing, or entrust government-designated organizations to conduct product testing, to determine the product’s degree of energy efficiency based on China energy efficiency standards


• The energy efficiency labels that producers and importers affix to products shall be provided to the Chinese government for record