The General Office of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment ("MEE") has recently issued the 2019 Key Tasks on Nationwide Prevention and Cleanup of Atmospheric Pollution (the "Key Tasks").
The Key Tasks state that, it is expected to see a two-percent year-on-year decrease in the average concentration of particulate matters 2.5 (PM2.5) in cities where the standard is not met, across the whole country, increase the percentage of days with good air quality in cities at and above the prefecture level to 79.4%, and reduce the total amount of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide discharged nationwide by three percent on a year-on-year basis, in 2019. To this end, the Key Tasks outline measures in nine aspects, including "launching overall administration of atmospheric environment in a deep-going manner", "steadily advancing the industrial restructuring" and "optimizing the energy structure as soon as possible". Moreover, the Key Tasks note that such documents as the Atmospheric Pollutant Emission Standard for the Drug Manufacturing Industry and the Control Standard for Unorganized Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds will be issued, and efforts will be made to enact and modify atmospheric pollutant emission standards for such industries as the pesticide, furniture making, artificial board, printing, daily-use glass, and casting. Emergency response plans for heavily polluted days will be amended, and guidance will be given to 80 cities in key areas on the new round of revision to lists on emergency emission reduction on heavily polluted days.