The Ministry of Commerce announced Thursday the rules and procedures for companies that apply for rare earth export quotas for the next year. All companies must have an ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 9000 quality system certification and measure up to environmental standards.

Rare earth manufactures must process rare earth from qualified miners, be equipped with qualified environmental facilities and obey emission standards. China will also reduce the number of rare earth exporters to streamline the industry, the Ministry of Commerce said yesterday on its website.

China will strictly manage rare earth exports. The ministry stated that companies that violate industrial and environmental rules will have their export quota revoked.