China issues new regulations on the tire industry.

China issued "Rules on the Management of the Development of the Tire Industry," which took effect October 1, according to the China Rubber Industry Association (CRIA).

Drafted by CRIA and the China Association of International Engineering Consultant (CAIEC), the legal document is designed to support the technical progress of tire producers, the development of meridian tires, restrict the capacity expansion of cross-ply tires and encourage enterprises to develop their own advanced technologies and a coordinated development of the industry.

The rules introduce standards for access to the industry and compulsory technical standards on quality, safety, environmental protection, energy conservation and raw materials consumption. The rules also cover the building of new tire factories, expansion of old factories, the import of rejected and used tires, import and export of tires, the lowering of tariffs on the import of natural rubber and the cross-ply tire consumption tax. The rules also set the standards for recalling defective tires.