The Standing Committee of the National People Congress just passed a law prohibiting “discharges of sewage, waste gas, solid waste or other poisonous substances to the agricultural product production areas.” (SCMP 4/30). It is a response to widespread concerns about contamination of agricultural produce. It will become effective Nov. 1.

There was also another report of water pollution that is expected to affected the water supply of 40,000 people in Wuchuan City, Guangdong province. (China Daily 4/29) The pollution is affecting the water in the Sanchajiang river, but the news report does not make clear the source of the pollution or its composition.