Chinanews, Beijing, February 13 – The Ministry of Commerce and China Customs have jointly published an announcement that the export of sea sand will be prohibited from March 1, 2007, including silicon sand and other sand ores, but excluding metalliferous ores.

 

The State Oceanic Administration says that it will fully cooperate with the Ministry of Commerce and China Customs, the better to exercise supervision over the trade of sea sand.

 

Last July, the Ministry of Commerce, State Oceanic Administration and China Customs sent an investigation team to Guangdong and Fujian provinces to check the trade of sea sand, which later came up with the suggestion that China should resume its control over sea sand export.

 

Sea sand is a common building and industrial material, and China's export of sea sand has been growing in the last few years to meet the increasing international demand. However, the excessive exploitation of sea sand has also put great pressure on China's oceanic ecoenvironment and its sustainable development.