China Yellow River Protection Law

Overview

The Yellow River Protection Law is China's river-basin protection law enacted to conserve the ecosystem of the Yellow River basin, promote the rational use of water resources, prevent water pollution, and achieve high-quality regional development. Effective April 1, 2023, it follows the Yangtze River Protection Law (effective March 2021) -- China's first national river-basin protection law -- as a comprehensive environmental law covering a major river basin. The law integrates water resource management, water quality conservation, ecosystem protection, soil erosion control, and regulation of highly polluting industries to pursue sustainable development in the Yellow River basin. Even after the Ecological and Environmental Code takes effect on August 15, 2026, this law will remain in force independently and will not be repealed, since the Code adopts a "moderate codification" model under which only the core principles of laws such as the Yangtze and Yellow River Protection Laws are reflected in its ecological protection chapter. The law aims to conserve the ecosystem of the Yellow River basin, protect and efficiently use water resources, prevent water pollution, control soil erosion and desertification, and balance regional economic development with environmental conservation; it also serves as the basic law underpinning the national strategy for "ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin." It applies to manufacturers, chemical plants, mining and resource-development operators, energy companies, heavy water users, and wastewater dischargers operating in the Yellow River basin; local governments implement region-specific management measures based on national systems, tailored to basin characteristics. Key areas include: water quality conservation (compliance with discharge standards, water pollution prevention measures); rational use of water resources (installation of water-saving equipment, proper management of water intake volumes); ecosystem protection (ecological impact assessment and conservation measures for development projects); and management of highly polluting, high-emission industries (strict review and siting restrictions).

Enforcement Timeline

- Continuing to exist as an independent law after the Ecological and Environmental Code takes effect (clarifying that it will not be consolidated).

- Strengthening basin-level environmental management.

- Digitalization of water resource management.

- Enhancement of wastewater monitoring systems.

- Promotion of basin-wide ecosystem conservation.

Business Impact

Companies must strengthen wastewater management systems, upgrade water intake and discharge management, respond to environmental impact assessments, improve the environmental performance of production equipment, and maintain ongoing responsiveness to administrative oversight. Attention to water resource management and environmental risk is also important across the entire supply chain. Because this law remains in force as an independent statute even after the Ecological and Environmental Code takes effect, it offers companies one of the few stable points of reference whose applicable law does not change before and after the Code takes effect. It operates in coordination with the Water Pollution Prevention and Control Law, the Pollutant Discharge Permit Administration Regulation, and various wastewater discharge standards (GB standards). Only the core principles of this law will be reflected in the Ecological and Environmental Code (effective August 15, 2026); the law itself will not be consolidated or repealed, unlike the Water Pollution Prevention and Control Law or the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Law. Environmental management in the Yellow River basin is also closely tied to national Five-Year Plans and ecological civilization policy.