In order to strengthen the protection and restoration of the ecological environment, to promote the rational and efficient utilization of resources and ensure ecological safety in the Yangtze River Basin, China enacted the Yangtze River Protection Law on 26 Dec 2020, which came into effect as of 1 Mar 2021.
To remind, the River Protection Law prohibits the carriage of highly toxic and other dangerous chemicals by river in the Yangtze River Basin.
Any breach will result in the illegal cargo being confiscated and a fine of not less than CNY 200,000, but no more than CNY 2 million.
As explained, individual persons found directly responsible for illegal activity shall be fined CNY 50,000, but not more than CNY 100,000.
According to Shanghai MSA, the object of punishment mainly refers to the carrier who transports the prohibited goods in the Yangtze River in violation of the Law.
However, if the carrier transports the goods without the knowledge of what is actually being transported because the shipper or the cargo owner falsely declares the prohibited goods, the MSA will also punish the shipper according to the regulations.
Meanwhile, the Law is applicable to the export, import, transit and transfer of the aforesaid forbidden goods in the Yangtze River Basin.
