The government is to expand its list of approved environmentally friendly products from 81 to more than 440, the top environmental administration said yesterday in Beijing.

The revised list will include several domestic brands, including Chery cars and Jinqiu timber products. The list, which was introduced last October, remains divided into 14 categories, among them cars, office equipment and construction materials.

"When the policy asking the government to give priority to green products was released last year, many Chinese companies realized that they had to choose the green path if they wanted to grow their market share," said Chen Yanping, head of the Environmental Certification Center of the State Environmental Protection Administration.

"They began to show great interest in applying for green certification for their products."

Jin Yibo, a deputy sales manager with the Chery Auto Group, said: "By putting environmentally friendly cars on the procurement list, the government is clearly demonstrating that it wants the public to buy green vehicles. It is also providing direction for the auto industry."

However, Chen pointed out that the inventory would continue to be updated, as new environmental standards are introduced. And companies would have to re-apply if their certification becomes outdated or their products are no longer classed as being "green".

The Ministry of Finance and the State Environmental Protection Administration released the circular outlining the green procurement policy last October.

It said that governments should purchase only those products that have been officially certified as environmentally friendly from January 1 of this year.

The policy will be implemented at all government levels next year.

(China Daily 03/29/2007 page2)