Environmental Monitoring in China: Market, Equipment, Regulatory Framework, and Export Prospects to Russia and Central Asia

Over the past two decades, China has made an unprecedented leap in the field of environmental monitoring. From a country with catastrophic levels of air and water pollution, it has transformed into one of the world’s leaders in implementing modern environmental control systems. Today, environmental monitoring in China is a high-tech industry that brings together thousands of automatic observation stations, satellite remote sensing systems, mobile laboratories, and powerful data processing centres. By 2025, the Chinese environmental monitoring market reached 6.4 billion US dollars, with an average annual growth rate of about 6.6%. According to other estimates, the total volume of China’s environmental monitoring market in 2025 exceeds 1,200 billion yuan (approximately 165 billion US dollars), with atmospheric monitoring accounting for about 35% and water resource monitoring for 30%.

However, for Russian and Central Asian companies considering the purchase of Chinese environmental monitoring equipment, the key questions are: on what standards and laws is the operation of this equipment based in China itself, and what is required for its legal import and use outside China? In this article, we will examine in detail the structure of China’s environmental monitoring system, its key players, the regulatory framework, and the practical steps for certifying Chinese equipment for use in Russia and Central Asian countries.

Part 1. Regulatory Framework for Environmental Monitoring in China

1.1. The top of the pyramid: Environmental Code and Air Pollution Prevention Law

The foundation of the entire environmental control system in China is the Environmental Code of the People’s Republic of China, which establishes management principles, environmental zoning systems, monitoring standards, interregional compensation mechanisms, and financial support for environmental protection measures. Alongside it, a key role is played by the Law on the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution (last amended in 2018), which sets out the obligations of enterprises to equip emission sources with continuous automatic monitoring systems (CEMS) and introduces penalty mechanisms for concealing or falsifying data.

1.2. Regulations on Ecological Environment Monitoring (2025–2026)

The most significant recent event has been the adoption of the “Regulations on Ecological Environment Monitoring” (State Council of the PRC, Decree No. 820), which came into force on 1 January 2026. This document, consisting of 7 chapters and 49 articles, aims to standardise activities in the field of ecological monitoring, expand its capabilities and level, and ensure the quality of the corresponding data. The Regulations require strengthening monitoring and early warning of ecological risks and establish an emergency monitoring management system for sudden environmental incidents. In effect, this document elevates environmental monitoring to the level of a top‑priority state policy.

1.3. Key ambient air quality standard: GB 3095-2012

The main standard defining what and how to measure in ambient air is GB 3095-2012 “Ambient Air Quality Standard”. This document has been mandatory throughout China since 1 January 2016. The standard defines:

• classification of ambient air functional zones;

• levels of quality standards;

• list of controlled pollutants;

• averaging times and concentration limit values;

• monitoring methods;

• rules for statistical data processing.

The standard also provides that provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government may establish their own stricter standards for pollutants not included in GB 3095-2012. China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment is currently developing an updated version of this standard, which should bring Chinese norms closer to the recommendations of the World Health Organization.

1.4. Hierarchy of technical standards (HJ – environmental standards)

In practice, the operation of environmental monitoring equipment is regulated by an extensive system of technical standards of the HJ series (Huan Jing – “environment”). These standards are developed by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the PRC and set out detailed requirements for specific types of equipment and measurement methods. Here are just a few examples from hundreds of active documents:

• HJ 653-2021 – Technical requirements and test methods for continuous automatic monitoring systems for particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) in ambient air. Compliance with this standard is a mandatory condition for including equipment in the register of the China National Environmental Monitoring Centre (CNEMC).

• HJ 1010-2018 – Technical requirements and test methods for continuous monitoring systems of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ambient air using gas chromatography.

• HJ 75-2017 and HJ 76-2017 – Technical specifications for continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS) from stationary sources for gaseous pollutants and particulate matter.

China’s environmental standards system also includes standards for water monitoring, soils, noise pollution, and radiation control. All these standards form a unified regulatory field within which any environmental equipment manufacturer in China operates.

1.5. Mandatory certification within China

For environmental monitoring equipment to be legally produced, sold, and operated on the territory of China, it must undergo several stages of mandatory conformity assessment:

CCC (China Compulsory Certification) – This is a mandatory certification system for products affecting health, safety, and the environment. It applies to 17 product categories, including electrical and electronic equipment, measuring instruments, and automation systems. For environmental monitoring equipment, a CCC certificate is a mandatory condition for legal circulation on the Chinese market.

CCEP (China Environmental Protection Product Certification) – This is a voluntary certification system for environmental products, which, nevertheless, is often required when participating in government procurement and tenders. The CCEP certificate confirms that the product meets Chinese environmental standards and can be recommended for use on state‑significant facilities.

Inclusion in the CNEMC register – The China National Environmental Monitoring Centre maintains a register of equipment that has passed tests for compliance with national standards. Only equipment included in this register can be used in China’s state environmental monitoring network. For manufacturers, this is the main indicator of quality and trust from regulators.

Part 2. Key Suppliers of Environmental Monitoring Equipment in China

The environmental equipment market in China is represented by both large state‑owned enterprises and private technology companies. Many of them have already reached the international level and actively supply products to Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East, as well as to Russia and the countries of Central Asia.

2.1. Market leaders: the “big four”

Focused Photonics (聚光科技) – Founded in 2002 in Hangzhou, the company is a global leader in analytical instruments for environmental monitoring. In the first half of 2024, the environmental segment of the company’s business grew by 14.88%. Focused Photonics’ portfolio includes ambient air monitoring stations, continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS) for industry, water quality analysers, and advanced equipment for monitoring volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The company actively participates in government tenders and projects to create a national environmental monitoring network.

Sailhero (先河环保) – A company from Shijiazhuang, founded in 1996, is known as a pioneer in grid‑based environmental monitoring systems. Sailhero was the first in China to develop and implement an approach where a city is divided into many small cells, each equipped with a compact observation station. To date, Sailhero’s systems cover 21 provinces of China and more than 179 cities and counties. The company also engages in the collection and analysis of big environmental data.

SDL (雪迪龙) – Beijing SDL Technology Co., Ltd. is one of the leading manufacturers of continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS) for stationary sources. The company is also actively developing the greenhouse gas monitoring direction; its SCS‑900 GHG system is included in the CNEMC register for monitoring CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O emissions. SDL products are widely used at thermal power plants, cement plants, metallurgical and petrochemical enterprises.

Infore Environment (盈峰环境) – A large multi‑profile holding that, in addition to manufacturing environmental equipment, provides comprehensive services for waste management, wastewater treatment, and operation of environmental facilities. In the monitoring segment, Infore offers both stationary and mobile solutions for air and water quality control.

In addition to these four companies, other significant players are active in the Chinese market, such as Liyuan Environmental (力合科技), Landun (蓝盾), and Tianhong Environmental (天虹环保), which specialises in miniature air quality monitoring stations.

2.2. Specialised manufacturers by equipment type

For industrial emission monitoring (CEMS):

• Jiangsu Huihuan Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. – a leading Chinese supplier of environmental monitoring solutions, whose products have passed a number of international and domestic certifications.

• Beijing Kaier Technology (北京凯尔科技) – produces a wide range of equipment: from continuous flue gas monitoring systems (CEMS) to portable time‑of‑flight mass spectrometers and ammonia monitoring systems at industrial sites.

• Hangzhou Zetian Technology – specialises in CEMS, ambient air quality monitoring systems (AQMS), and water pollution control.

For volatile organic compounds (VOCs) monitoring:

• Skyray Instrument (天瑞仪器) – produces online VOCs monitoring systems both for ambient air (EVOCs‑2000) and for industrial flue gases (CEMS‑V100). Skyray systems can measure total hydrocarbons, methane, non‑methane hydrocarbons, and benzene compounds.

• Beijing BCT (北京博赛德科技有限公司) – specialises in comprehensive solutions for VOCs monitoring, including online systems and portable gas chromatograph‑mass spectrometers.

• Suzhou Lengshan Precision Instruments (苏州冷杉精密仪器) – offers VOCs monitoring systems with a detection limit at the ppt (parts per trillion) level, using a combination of GC‑MS and FID for simultaneous analysis of more than 100 pollutants.

For water quality monitoring:

• BOQU Instrument – since 2007, specialises in water quality analysers and sensors, including chemical oxygen demand (COD) meters, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) meters, turbidimeters, and online monitoring systems.

• Lianhua Technology (连华科技) – a company with 40 years of experience in environmental technology, leading in the production of BOD meters and water quality analysers.

• Tianjin ShareShine Technology (天津盛玺科技) – has developed the EcoSense integrated system for environmental and water monitoring.

For ultrafine particle (UFP) monitoring:

It should be noted that in the segment of ultrafine particle monitoring (using condensation particle counters CPC and scanning mobility particle spectrometers SMPS), Chinese manufacturers still lag behind European and American brands. The Chinese market is dominated by companies such as the German Palas (which is actively represented in China through its subsidiary Palas Instrument (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.) and other Western manufacturers. However, Chinese companies are gradually exploring this niche, primarily through OEM production and assembly.

2.3. International brands in the Chinese market

It is important to understand that the Chinese environmental equipment market is not isolated. International giants are also actively present here, either having their own production facilities in China or supplying equipment through partners. These include Thermo Fisher, ABB, Siemens, Horiba, Shimadzu, Sick, Endress+Hauser, Danaher (Hach), Xylem and others. The presence of these companies stimulates Chinese manufacturers to improve the quality and competitiveness of their products.

Part 3. Typical Environmental Monitoring Systems in China

3.1. Stationary automatic ambient air quality monitoring stations (AQMS)

These are the backbone of China’s state environmental monitoring network. A typical station includes analysers for measuring SO₂, NO‑NO₂‑NOx, CO, O₃, PM10 and PM2.5, as well as meteorological sensors (temperature, pressure, humidity, wind speed and direction). The stations comply with the requirements of GB 3095-2012 and are equipped with automatic sampling, calibration and data transmission systems to processing centres. To improve measurement accuracy and reduce maintenance costs, automatic calibration systems with zero and span gases are increasingly being used.

3.2. Continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS)

These systems are installed on the stacks of industrial enterprises – thermal power plants, cement plants, metallurgical plants, waste‑to‑energy plants. CEMS measure concentrations of SO₂, NOx, CO, CO₂, O₂, as well as the content of particulate matter (dust) in flue gases. The systems comply with standards HJ 75-2017 and HJ 76-2017. Data is transmitted in real time to regional and national environmental control centres.

3.3. Grid monitoring systems

This is an innovative development of the Chinese company Sailhero, which is now being actively deployed throughout China. The essence of the approach is to divide a city into cells of 1×1 to 5×5 km and install a compact, cost‑effective monitoring station in each cell. Such stations measure the main pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, SO₂, NO₂, CO, O₃) and can operate autonomously. Data from all stations is combined into a single database, making it possible to accurately identify pollution sources, predict plume dispersion, and respond quickly to exceedances.

3.4. Mobile laboratories and “on‑the‑move” environmental monitoring

For rapid surveying of territories and identification of point pollution sources, Chinese environmental services actively use mobile laboratories based on vehicles. These laboratories are equipped with portable gas analysers, sampling systems, and equipment for rapid analysis. Some models, such as the environmental “survey vehicle” from Beijing BCT, can analyse air while moving and build real‑time pollutant distribution maps.

3.5. Water quality monitoring stations (WQMS)

Water quality monitoring systems in China include both stationary automatic stations on rivers, lakes and reservoirs, as well as floating buoys for water areas. A typical set of measured parameters includes water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, turbidity, ammonium nitrogen, nitrates, phosphates, COD, BOD and other indicators depending on the class of the water body.

3.6. Satellite and aerospace monitoring

China also actively uses Earth remote sensing data to assess the state of the atmosphere, water bodies and land resources. Satellite data allows tracking transboundary pollutant transport, monitoring compliance with bans on stubble burning, and detecting illegal landfills and wastewater discharges.

Part 4. Export of Chinese Environmental Monitoring Equipment to Russia and Central Asian Countries

Chinese‑made equipment attracts buyers from Russia and Central Asia for several reasons: first, the price‑quality ratio is often significantly more favourable compared to European or American alternatives. Second, Chinese manufacturers offer flexible delivery conditions, including OEM contracts, customisation of software, and adaptation of interfaces to customer requirements. Third, geographical proximity and well‑developed logistics chains make it possible to reduce delivery times and simplify warranty service.

However, before Chinese environmental monitoring equipment can be legally imported, installed and operated in Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan or other countries in the region, it must undergo a number of mandatory conformity assessment procedures. Let us examine these requirements in detail.

4.1. Certification for import into Russia

When importing equipment from China into Russia, the key requirement is confirmation of compliance with the technical regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Today, this is the main and, as a rule, the only legal way to put equipment into operation in Russia. The process usually includes the following steps:

1. Identification of the equipment and determination of the applicable EAEU technical regulations. For environmental monitoring equipment, the most relevant are TR CU 004/2011 (On the safety of low‑voltage equipment), TR CU 020/2011 (Electromagnetic compatibility), and for some types of equipment, TR CU 010/2011 (Safety of machinery and equipment).

2. Issuance of an EAEU certificate or declaration of conformity (EAC). The issuance must be made in the name of a legal entity registered in the EAEU territory (e.g., a Russian importer or authorised representative).

3. Conducting tests in accredited laboratories in the EAEU territory (in some cases, test reports from Chinese laboratories may be accepted, but this requires additional confirmation).

4. Affixing the single EAC mark of circulation on the product or accompanying documentation.

Additionally, metrological certification (entry of the equipment into the Federal Information Fund for Ensuring Uniformity of Measurements) may be required if the equipment is used for state regulatory purposes (e.g., environmental control at enterprises supervised by Rosprirodnadzor). A fire safety certificate may also be required for equipment installed in hazardous areas.

It is important to note that the presence of a CE certificate (European Union) for Chinese equipment does not exempt from the need to obtain EAC certification. Russian legislation does not recognise CE for the purposes of legal import and operation of equipment.

4.2. Certification for Central Asian countries

The situation in Central Asian countries is more diverse but shares common features.

Kazakhstan. As a member of the EAEU, Kazakhstan recognises EAC certificates issued in accordance with the Union’s regulations. Equipment that already has a valid EAC certificate can be freely imported and operated in Kazakhstan. Additionally, participation in government procurement may require a ST‑KZ certificate, which confirms the product’s compliance with Kazakh standards. There is also a procedure for recognising foreign conformity certificates, including Chinese CCC and CCEP, but this requires submitting an application to the authorised state bodies of Kazakhstan and may take up to 60 days.

Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan is not a member of the EAEU, so import requirements for equipment are governed by national legislation. In practice, importing environmental equipment will require an Uzbek certificate of conformity (often issued through certification centres at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry or specialised laboratories). In some cases, EAC or international certificates are recognised, but this is decided on a case‑by‑case basis for each batch of equipment.

Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan is a member of the EAEU, so the requirements are similar to those of Russia and Kazakhstan – an EAC certificate is mandatory.

Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. These countries are not members of the EAEU, and import requirements are determined by national laws. Typically, a national certificate of conformity is required, for which technical documentation for the equipment, test results (Chinese test reports may be accepted) and, in some cases, a production inspection are needed.

4.3. Practical recommendations for exporters and importers

To successfully bring Chinese environmental monitoring equipment to the markets of Russia and Central Asia, it is recommended to follow this algorithm:

Step 1. Analysis of applicable regulations. Determine which technical regulations (EAEU or national) apply to the specific equipment. This is best done at an early stage, as documentation requirements may differ.

Step 2. Selection of an authorised representative in the EAEU. To obtain an EAC certificate, the Chinese manufacturer must appoint an authorised person registered in the EAEU territory to act as the certificate holder. This could be a Russian or Kazakh partner/importer.

Step 3. Preparation of technical documentation. A complete set of documents in Russian must be provided: technical passport, operating manual, diagrams, specifications, as well as test reports (if available). Chinese manufacturers are advised to translate key documentation into Russian in advance using professional translators.

Step 4. Conducting tests. Depending on the type of equipment, tests in accredited EAEU laboratories may be required. To simplify the process, some Chinese manufacturers undergo preliminary tests according to methods close to EAEU requirements, which reduces the time and cost of subsequent certification.

Step 5. Obtaining the certificate and affixing marking. After successful completion of the tests, an EAC certificate or declaration of conformity is issued. The equipment is marked with the single EAC mark of circulation.

Step 6. Metrological attestation (if necessary). If the equipment is to be used for state environmental control purposes, it must be entered into the Federal Information Fund for Ensuring Uniformity of Measurements. This is a separate procedure that requires tests for approval of the measuring instrument type.

Part 5. Summary and Conclusions

China’s environmental monitoring industry today is a mature, highly competitive, and technologically advanced sector capable of meeting the most demanding requirements for controlling air, water and industrial emissions quality. The market is structured around several large national players – Focused Photonics, Sailhero, SDL, Infore Environment – as well as many specialised manufacturers of CEMS, VOCs analysers and water monitoring equipment. China’s regulatory framework, including GB 3095-2012, hundreds of HJ standards, and the new Regulations on Ecological Environment Monitoring (2026), imposes strict requirements on data quality and reliability.

For Russian and Central Asian companies, Chinese environmental monitoring equipment represents an attractive alternative to Western brands. However, the key condition for successful import and operation is mandatory certification according to EAEU (EAC) requirements for the member states of the Union (Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan) or obtaining national certificates for Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. With proper planning and advance preparation of documentation, this process takes from 1 to 3 months and does not present insurmountable obstacles.

The most promising categories for import from China today appear to be: compact grid monitoring stations, continuous emission monitoring systems for industry (CEMS), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) analysers, and water quality monitoring equipment (WQMS). As environmental requirements in Russia and Central Asia become stricter – a process already underway under the influence of both internal factors and the global agenda – demand for high‑quality, reliable and at the same time affordable equipment will only grow.