China's finance authority and environmental watchdog have issued a government purchase list, specifying brand names of environmentally-friendly products that government departments should give priority to in its purchase plans.

 

The list is the first of its kind in the country and includes about 1,000 products from 14 categories ranging from cars to construction materials that have been approved by the China Certification Committee for Environmental Labeling.

 

Products are required to meet the environmental protection and energy saving standards set by the State Environmental Protection Administration in order to obtain the environmental label.

 

The list will be put into practice next year by central and provincial government and government-affiliated organizations, as well as those in selected cities, and will be spread to the whole country from 2008.

 

Purchases of items not included on the list will not be paid for by the government financial departments, according to a circular issued by China's Ministry of Finance and SEPA of China in late October.

 

Ninety car models produced by the five car companies of FAW Volkswagen, Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile Co. Ltd., Beijing Hyundai Co. Ltd., Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle Company and Dongfeng Honda Automobile Company, have been included on the list for their comparatively low emissions and fuel consumption.

 

The Chinese government predicted in January 2006 that its total expenditure on purchasing plans would reach 300 billion yuan (US$37.5 billion).

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 20, 2006)