By Wu Qing King & Wood Mallesons’ Commercial & Regulatory group
金杜律师事务所作为Thomson Reuters环境法板块中国地区唯一合作律所，2016、2017、2018连续三年为其提供 “Environmental law and practice in China: overview”（下称“Q&A Guide”）。Q&A Guide是一份专门针对中国环境法律的指引，提供了对中国环境法律的高度概览，并且介绍了主要的环境实务问题，包括大气和水污染物排放，环境影响评价，固体废物和危险废物，土壤污染，以及交易中的环境问题等。金杜律师事务所每年都会结合最新出台的环境法律及环境监管趋势等内容，对Q&A Guide作出更新。目前2017/2018年度的Q&A Guide已更新，将以专题形式定期在金杜说法平台进行推送，旨在为企业提供对中国环境法律体系及实务的全方位指引。
To what extent are environmental requirements enforced by regulators?
The environmental laws are strictly enforced in China.
The authorised environmental supervision institutions, which are subordinated to the administrative departments for environmental protection at all levels (see Question 1, Regulatory authorities), can conduct on-site inspections in enterprises emitting pollution, but cannot impose administrative penalties. Only the environmental protection authorities at county level or above can impose administrative penalties.
Environmental administrative authorities at county level or above can take various enforcement measures, such as on-site inspections, seizing and impounding the polluting facilities and equipment, and so on.
Public security departments at county level or above can detain an individual who violates environmental laws.