The State Council, China's cabinet, said on Wednesday that it will review the draft environment tax law "as quickly as possible".

 

The State Council adopted a plan for its legislative work in 2015 at an executive meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang.

 

Economic management, social and cultural development, environmental protection and government reform will be prioritized, according to a statement issued after the meeting.

Last November, the draft environment tax law was submitted to the State Council for review, which will levy tax on polluters. The bill will not be tabled at the legislature until the State Council approves it.

 

Sun Youhai, an environment expert with the Counselors' Office of the State Council, told Xinhua earlier this month that the draft law planned to tax sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ammonia nitrogen and fine dust emissions as well as activities that cause an increase in chemical oxygen demand, a key index of water quality.

 

The new tax is expected to help deter polluters and fund environmental protection efforts.

 

Also on the fast track are regulations on government investment, affordable urban housing, agricultural irrigation and the management of residence permits, the statement said. 

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