Beijing: A draft amendment to the Environmental Protection Tax Law was submitted for review on Monday to the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature. The proposed amendment aims to include all volatile organic compounds within the scope of the environmental protection tax, seeking to enhance control over these compounds.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the current law imposes taxes on only 18 volatile organic compounds, such as benzene and formaldehyde. Finance Minister Lan Fo'an emphasized the necessity of amending the law to cover the remaining volatile organic compounds to improve air quality and strengthen environmental protection efforts.

Volatile organic compounds are involved in atmospheric photochemical reactions and are significant contributors to PM2.5 and ozone formation. These compounds are linked to air pollution issues, including haze and photochemical smog. By expanding the tax to cover all volatile organic compounds, the amendment seeks to address these environmental challenges.