Environment tax law on fast track

The State Council, China's cabinet, said on Wednesday that it would 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 emission 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 management of residence permits, the statement said.

The State Council pledged at the meeting that the government will try to prevent policies from overpowering the law.

It will incrementally reduce the number of regulatory documents issued by ministries and commissions under the State Council and limit government approvals, the statement said.

The State Council will also comb through existing regulatory documents and abolish outdated ones.