New Environmental Regulations for Factories To Take Effect in January 2026

In January 2026, the focus of factory environmental protection will be on the implementation of new regulations, investigation and punishment of typical violations, and upgrading of pollution control technologies.  Compliance requirements for air, water, solid waste, and monitoring will be significantly tightened, requiring companies to pay close attention to limits, control measures, and operational details.

The "Emission Standard of Air Pollutants for Refractory Materials Industry" (GB 46790-2025) is the first dedicated standard regulating emissions of particulate matter and VOCs, strengthening control over fugitive emissions.

Refractory material factories need to install high-efficiency dust removal and VOCs treatment facilities, prioritizing the enclosure of dust-generating points.

The "Emission Standard of Air Pollutants for Lead and Zinc Industries" (GB 25466.1-2025) will be implemented immediately, with existing enterprises required to meet the standards before January 1, 2027; lead, zinc, and particulate matter limits are tightened, and fugitive emissions are subject to stricter controls. Lead and zinc factories need to upgrade flue gas treatment and workshop enclosure, completing equipment modifications in advance.

The "Technical Requirements for Data Transmission of Automatic Monitoring and Control Systems for Pollutants" (HJ 212-2025) standardizes data transmission formats and protocols, ensuring stable and accurate monitoring data. Factories need to upgrade data acquisition instruments and transmission software to avoid penalties due to data loss/anomalies.

The "Emission Standard for Construction Noise" (GB 12523-2025) details limits for different construction phases and adds nighttime cumulative control. Construction within factory premises requires phased noise control, and nighttime work requires additional reporting and noise reduction measures.