'Green' products should enjoy priority in government procurement
by state organs, public service units and organizations, or
financial authorities may refuse to pay the budget, according to a
Beijing Times report today.
China's first 'Green List' for government procurement covering
14 industries and ranging from autos, printing, TVs and furniture
was made public yesterday jointly by the Ministry of Finance and
State Administration of Environmental Protection (SEPA).?
A Ministry of Finance official said that if such indices as
function, technology and service are the same, governments at all
levels should first consider products on the "Green List" which
have passed the national environmental labeling certification.
"Financial authorities may refuse to pay the budget if the
purchaser or the entrusted organization does not procure according
to the rules," the official added.
For government car procurement, the Ministry and SEPA chose nine
brands including Peugeot, Citron of Dongfeng Motor, NISSAN, A6 and
A4 series of Audi, Bora, Jetta, Caddy and Hyundai while the once
major force in government cars "Santana" wasn't selected.
A SEPA official said that "green procurement" would be
implemented next year and first by central and provincial
government departments. It would be promoted nationwide from
2008.
Details of the "Green List" can be found on the official
government procurement website www.ccgp.gov.cn.
(China.org.cn by Zhang Yunxing, November 17, 2006)