To thoroughly implement Xi Jinping's thought on ecological civilization and his thought on the rule of law, fully meet the requirements of precise, scientific, and law-based pollution control, and promote the implementation of relevant laws and regulations such as the Environmental Code of the People's Republic of China and the Regulations on Ecological Environment Monitoring, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, together with the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the Ministry of Public Security, and the State Administration for Market Regulation, recently issued the "Notice on Continuously Strengthening the Supervision of Ecological Environment Technical Service Institutions and Deeply Carrying Out Rectification of Falsification" (hereinafter referred to as the "Notice"). This notice further cracks down hard on data falsification by technical service institutions in ecological environment monitoring and other fields, strengthens routine supervision, continuously standardizes market order, and supports the construction of a Beautiful China.
The Notice emphasizes the following principles: first, adhere to a problem-oriented approach and prioritize technological prevention, strengthening the role of technology in enhancing capabilities and implementing source-control measures; second, pursue precise governance and sustained, regular rectification, and improve long-term regulatory mechanisms; third, foster coordinated collaboration and pool resources, reinforcing cross-regional and inter-departmental cooperation; and fourth, guide compliance while balancing strictness with leniency—severely punishing malicious violations while providing support and guidance to entities committing minor infractions to help them comply with the law. At present, we must focus on three key areas of work: advancing comprehensive regulatory oversight across all sectors, rigorously enforcing the law and handling cases, and strengthening efforts to drive reform through case investigations. To this end, we will implement 11 specific measures in four areas: expanding channels for identifying leads, intensifying the investigation and prosecution of cases, enhancing inter-agency coordination and collaboration, and improving the regulatory and enforcement framework.
With regard to broadening the sources of leads, the Notice requires strengthening the empowerment of digital and intelligent technologies, leveraging big data, artificial intelligence, and other tools to enhance the capacity for early warning of abnormal data, implementing seamless, end-to-end supervision, and improving the coordination and integration between off-site and on-site enforcement. It also calls for expanding channels for identifying issues, ensuring smooth complaint and reporting pathways, encouraging insiders and the general public to report violations, establishing and refining a reward mechanism for whistleblowers, and guiding and motivating the public to actively play their role in oversight.
With regard to intensifying the investigation and handling of cases, the Notice emphasizes adhering to the principle of “attacking at the source, dismantling dens, destroying networks, and severing supply chains.” It calls for law-based investigations and punishments of technical service institutions and individuals engaging in fraud or misrepresentation, while also holding upstream and downstream related enterprises accountable, thereby achieving “multi-faceted investigations into each case and full-chain accountability.” Furthermore, it mandates re‑inspections and follow-up reviews of the rectification efforts undertaken by previously investigated entities in recent years to resolutely prevent a resurgence of illegal activities. The Notice also stresses strengthening guidance on major and high‑profile cases, making effective use of measures such as special‑case supervision, elevated-level investigations, and joint oversight with public listing, to enhance overall case-handling guidance.
With regard to enhancing the effectiveness of coordinated collaboration, the Notice specifies that joint inspection and case-handling mechanisms should be improved, with technical service institutions designated as key targets for cross-departmental “double-random, one-public” joint inspections. It also calls for advancing regional law enforcement cooperation, deepening coordination between law enforcement and judicial authorities, establishing sound mechanisms for information sharing and other forms of inter-agency coordination, and strengthening the two-way linkage between administrative law enforcement and criminal justice. Furthermore, a classified credit management system for technical service institutions is to be established, and differentiated regulatory measures are to be implemented.
In terms of improving regulatory enforcement systems, the Notice requires strengthening research on the application of the Environmental Code of the People's Republic of China, the Regulations on Ecological Environment Monitoring, and the judicial interpretations issued by the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, to ensure uniform legal application in similar cases; strictly controlling industry entry and exit, strengthening qualification accreditation and registration management in areas such as ecological environment monitoring and emission inspections for motor vehicles and ships, refining the circumstances under which engaging in fraudulent practices results in a ban from the industry, and rigorously guarding the gateways to industry access.
The Notice also sets out clear requirements for all localities and departments to strengthen organizational leadership, standardize inspection practices, provide effective support and guidance, and enhance public opinion management. It emphasizes the strict implementation of standards for administrative inspections involving enterprises, the intensification of legal publicity and support, and the promotion of industry self-regulation, so as to underpin high-quality economic and social development through high-level environmental protection.
