Comply or Close - the New Reality for Industrial Facilities in China: Special Focus on Wastewater and Soil Remediation (in Guangzhou, in English) Go back »
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Time2019-04-11 | 09:00 - 11:45
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Venue:The Executive Centre, Conference Room
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Address:
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Fee:Members: 300 |
Non Members: 600
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Recent State Council reforms have pursued the parallel objectives of simplifying “green tape” associated with environmental permitting of new industrial developments while at the same time implementing supervision measures to promote operational compliance with environmental regulations for existing facilities. These changes mark a significant departure from the Ministry of Environmental Protection’s (MEP) long-standing policy of focusing on permitting and approvals for new facilities with minimal monitoring of environmental compliance over the operational life of industrial facilities.
Plant Managers at industrial facilities in China have long known that failing to abide by environmental standards set by MEP is unlikely to land them in hot water. With few resources available to monitor facilities themselves, local authorities have generally left industrial facilities to self-report discharges to the environment with minimal supervision. The result has been a steady deterioration in the environment that has accompanied China’s industrial development. That changed earlier this year. The Soil Pollution Prevention and Control Law of the PRC, 12 years in the making, approved on August 31, 2018, and effective as of January 1, 2019, is a game changing shift to a new era in China’s effort to environmental sustainability. Self-reporting is out and Central Government Inspections are in as China’s MEP gets tough on polluting facilities. In the first three quarters of 2017, almost 29,000 violations have been punished under the new Environmental Protection Law. Penalties and include plant shutdowns, confiscation of company property and fines. Local officials and managers (both at Chinese and foreign facilities) have been detained.
The numbers speak for themselves. Year to date, almost 6,500 industrial facilities have been ordered to suspend or shutdown operations across the country. Almost 6,300 administrative detentions have been ordered, a year-on-year increase of 170%. In Guangdong, over 300 companies are listed in EPB’s black list in 2017 and more than 9,400 inspections and penalties was conducted in 2018. For the first time under the new Soil Pollution Prevention Law, regulatory authorities have the legal power to enter suspected and non-compliant sites to investigate and, if necessary, take mitigating and/or corrective actions (Chapter 7, Article 77) and hold the responsible party liable costs and damages.
Water Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plans are in effect and a general improvement in water quality was reported in the first half of 2017. MEP Inspectors have been dispatched to those regions that fell behind annual water pollution control targets. Where violations are identified, MEP has the authority to suspend the power of local officials to grant approvals for new industrial projects (and this has been done in several cities).
The long-awaited Soil Pollution Prevention Law was gazetted for public comment over the summer months and a timetable has now been published for it to come into force. The law requires provincial agencies to create and maintain a publically available register of contaminated sites. Industrial facilities suspected of soil or groundwater contamination will be required by local environmental authorities to undertake environmental surveys and report these to the authorities who will in turn make the survey results publically available through a register of contaminated sites. Anecdotally, local authorities are already requiring soil and groundwater investigations for certain industries in advance of the law coming into effect.
The changing regulatory landscape creates new challenges for business and requires reassessment of the way in which environmental compliance is managed and monitored.
Suspension and closure of polluting facilities creates supply chain risks for manufacturers. Hi-tech manufacturing and technology industries with complex supply chains that operate lean inventory models are particularly exposed. Listed MNCs face another significant business risk because the new Law makes available to the public the identities of the polluters and the nature of non-compliance which can damage their brand name.
Additional investment in maintaining or improving pollution control equipment is an obvious implication. Multinational clients are rushing to implement EHS compliance audit programmes and reviewing the adequacy of systems, staff and resources in place at their facilities in China.
Companies investing in new facilities should take these regulatory and enforcement trends into account. Authorities are now much more selective about the type of facility that can be built in particular development zones. Projects that are incompatible with newly issued planning guidelines face the risk not being approved or, worse still, relocating once operational.
Agenda
9:00-9:15 Registration
9:15-9:35 General Topics on “Comply or Close” - By Piers
9:35-10:00 Wastewater and Compliance - By George
10:00-10:30 Q&A for Wastewater - By George
10:30-10:45 Coffee Break
10:45-11:10 Soil Contamination and Remediation - By Seong
11:10-11:40 Q&A for Soil Contamination - By Seong
11:40-11:45 Closing Remarks from EU Chamber
Registration 注册
Registration is required to secure your seat. Please send the following information to Ping Rui Zhao,przhao@europeanchamber.com.cn or you can register online if you are a member. 请务必提前注册来预订你的位置，请将下面的信息通过邮箱提供给赵平瑞 przhao@europeanchamber.com.cn 或者你也可以选择在中国欧盟商会官网的活动信息页面在线注册。
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*If you need a VAT special invoice (fapiao) for reimbursement, please provide a complete information of your company that includes: identification number, company phone number, issuing bank, and issuing bank account. 增值税专用发票信息：如果您需要报销增值税专用发票，请提供纳税人识别号，公司电话，开户行以及开户行账号。
Payment 付款
You can pay before the day of the event using cash or WeChat Pay. The European Chamber can give you an official receipt or fapiao, it will be sent to you by posting 10 working days after the event. 你可以在活动日之前通过现金或微信支付。中国欧盟商会可以提供活动回执或发票，在活动结束后10个工作日内以邮寄的方式给你。
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Events have limited seating so to ensure your attendance we encourage advance online registration and payment for all events. We cannot guarantee entry to anyone not registered in advance. 由于活动的名额有限，我们鼓励你提前在线注册和支付以保证你的席位。我们对于没有提前支付的人员，不能保证活动名额。
Cancellation Policy 取消
If you cannot attend an event that you have registered for, please cancel your registration no later than one business day prior to the event. If you fail to notify us of your cancellation in a timely fashion, you will be charged for event costs. 如果你无法参加，请至少提前一个工作日以上通知欧盟商会取消。如果没有提前通知，你仍然将被收取活动的费用。
Speakers
Mr. George Hsu
Mr. Hsu is a Chemical and Environmental Engineer with over 25-year experience in market development, sales, engineering, project execution and commissioning especially in the field of water and wastewater treatment, and Phase I & II Environmental Site Assessment for Multinational Companies. He is responsible for development of Water & Wastewater and Contaminated Site Management Services for all the sectors in China. Mr. Hsu is based in Shanghai.
Mr. Seong Jeon
Mr. Seong Jeon has over 25 years of experience in environmental site assessment, remediation design and implementation for complex sites. He has managed projects in the United States for various government agencies, and more recently in China, he has advised MNCs on acquisitions, and the World Bank and Asian Development Bank on major urban/environmental development projects. Mr. Jeon is currently responsible for ERM’s Contaminated Site Management services in Greater China.
Mr. Piers Touzel
Piers is ERM’s China Country Manager. He has helped multinational clients identify, assess and manage EHS risks in China for 18 years. He advises industrial clients, investors and financial institutions on the financial implications of sustainability challenges associated with the establishment of new facilities as well as acquisitions and divestitures. Mr. Touzel splits his time between Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong.
Mr. Cheekeong Lai
Lai is a Partner with ERM, having 25 years’ experience in sustainability programs including suppliers’ assessment, corporate social responsibility and green supply chains. His experience also includes validation and verification of carbon emission reduction projects on behalf of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UFCCC), and environmental, occupational safety & health and quality management systems audits, training and consultancy. Lai has extensive international experience and exposure in countries in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America. He was based in Beijing from 2008 to 2014.
Prior to joining ERM, Lai held a senior management position in Responsible Business Alliance (formerly known as the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition) assuming a high level advisory role on risk assessments and compliance.