Key practical points:
• Soil is classified by use: farmland and construction land, each with different control requirements.
• The polluter is responsible for investigation and remediation; if it cannot be identified, the land owner/user bears responsibility.
• Former polluted factory sites must be assessed and remediated before conversion to housing or sensitive use.
• Building homes and schools on unremediated contaminated land is forbidden.
• A watch list of contaminated land is maintained and its uses restricted.
• Using polluted water, fertiliser or pesticides breaches the law and is penalised.
Law on Prevention and Control of Soil Pollution · Yalla China
中华人民共和国土壤污染防治法 / Law on Prevention and Control of Soil Pollution
Enacted: 2018-08-31 ✅ Effective: 2019-01-01
📝 Overview
China's first law dedicated to protecting soil from pollution, especially farmland and former factory sites. It rests on 'the polluter remediates' and links land use to its condition. It concerns property developers, factories and farmers.
This is general information only, not legal advice. For your specific case, consult a licensed lawyer.
📜 The law text / key provisions
💬 Practical reading
💬 This is a general reading/opinion for orientation — not the official legal text nor legal advice.
If you buy or develop land that was a former factory, make sure it has been assessed and remediated before building housing or a school, since that is forbidden on contaminated land. The polluter primarily bears the remediation cost. General orientation, not legal advice.
📎 Official source
Ministry of Ecology and Environment / mee.gov.cn
🕒 Updated: 16 March 2026