China: Jingiang tanneries shut down due to new regulations

China’s eastern coastal province Jinjiang has launched a three-month regulation campaign which focuses on sectors of chemicals, tanning, print and dyeing, and paper making, reported in a statement issued by the China Leather Industry Association.

Over one hundred and ninety companies were on the list to be ordered to stop production due to environmental violation. There were sixty-three tanneries located in the Kemu concentrated industrial area, which were included on the list, were ordered to stop production due to violation. A spokesperson for the concentrated area said electric power had been cut off from August 25 and the regulations will last three months. The inspection teams visited three tanneries in the concentrated area and confirmed that they had stopped production.

There was also rumour that local government officials in Jinjiang had shut off the power, targeting the remaining tanners in the area. The majority of these tanners were said to use imported raw materials that included hides as well as wet-blue and splits. In order for these tanners to resume operations they will have to be certified with the use of the required pollution abatement equipment.