China-based correspondent Huatai Marine said that it had recently
received enquiries from International group Clubs about administrative fines
faced by their members for dumping food wastes in Chinese waters. Huatai Marine
said that it had been requested to provide relevant regulations and
interpretations on disposal of food wastes from ships.
The correspondent noted that China was a signatory state
to the MARPOL Convention, and that therefore Chinese regulations on food wastes
disposal were basically consistent with the MARPOL Convention.
The specific requirements are:
If the ship is not less than 3nm from the nearest land,
food wastes must be discharged into reception facilities.
If the ship is between three and 12 nautical miles from
the nearest land, food wastes can be discharged only if they have been ground
to the degree that they can pass through a screen with openings no greater than
25mm.
Food wastes can be discharged if the ship is more than
12nm away from the nearest land.
According to Article 73(1) and (2) of Marine Environment
Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China, discharging into sea any sea
pollutants or any other substances the discharge of which is prohibited by this
law, fine of not less than 30,000 yuan but not more than 200,000 yuan will be
imposed. If failing to discharge pollutants into the sea in accordance with the
provisions of this Law, or discharging pollutants in excess of standards or
total discharge volume control indicators, a fine not less than 20,000 yuan but
not more than 100,000 yuan shall be imposed.
