China and Germany reached an agreement on mutual recognition of environmental labels on Thursday.

The agreement will allow Chinese companies to obtain the German "Blue Angel" environmental label in China and German companies to get Chinese environmental labels in Germany provided they have approval from environmental protection departments on each side.

This agreement will facilitate market access for products from both sides, sources with China's environmental protection department said.

China has signed similar mutual recognition agreements on environmental labeling with Australia, the Republic of Korea, Japan and New Zealand, sources added.

"Blue Angel" environmental labeling has been used in Germany since 1978 and China's system has been in operation since 1993.

After ten-plus years of development, 56 fields of products including electronic appliances, office equipment and textiles are covered by China's environmental labeling system, sources said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2007)