China is expected to issue six more regulations in the second half of 2007 to tighten pollution controls on electronic products, according to the Ministry of Information Industry (MII).

The regulations will be issued in response to the European Union's Energy Using Products (EUP) Directive that will officially take effect in August.

The EUP Directive includes eco-friendly standards on the design, production, transportation, application, and recycling of electronic products.

Without consideration of the new foreign standards, China's exports of electronics could be adversely affected, Huang Jianzhong, an MII official, said on Wednesday.

The production of electronic devices has caused pollution from toxic substances including lead, mercury, and chromium, Huang said.

The country has issued three regulations governing the maximum allowable level of the hazardous substances in electronic products.

Huang noted China will issue a new regulation in August requiring firms to guarantee toxic substances will not leak from the devices. The nation will introduce another five standards on non-lead soldering by the end of the year.

The official also said the regulations will help upgrade facilities in the electronic industry.

(Xinhua News Agency June 14, 2007)