New penalties planned for violations related to radioactive waste management

China plans to intensify punishments for violations related to the management of radioactive materials, according to a draft environment code. The newly revised draft was submitted Monday to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, for a third deliberation.

The draft aims to strengthen penalties for violations involving radioactive source management, aligning them with those concerning hazardous waste. According to the code, entities failing to display required radioactive labels, signs or warning notices in Chinese, provide safety education and training, or implement protective measures would face fines between 20,000 and 200,000 yuan ($2,842 to $28,420).

Entities that do not treat or dispose of radioactive solid waste according to national regulations must act to align with them within a specified timeframe while facing fines of between 50,000 and 200,000 yuan. If the deadline isn't met, a qualified entity will handle the disposal, with costs borne by the waste generator, plus an additional fine between 200,000 and 1 million yuan.

Addressing the NPC session, Shen Chunyao, head of the committee's Legislative Affairs Commission, said the draft proposes moving from a penalty model contingent on failure to rectify violations to one that directly imposes penalties for illegal acts.

Those discharging prohibited radioactive waste gas or wastewater into the environment or dumping radioactive solid waste must take remedial measures to eliminate pollution and face fines of between 200,000 and 2,000,000 yuan.

In certain circumstances, violators could be ordered to suspend operations or shut down.