Recent massive earthquake in Sichuan has almost corrupted the supply chain of phosphorus mineral in the province.

Sichuan is said to be China 's fourth largest phosphate rock covering area, followed after Hebei , Yunnan and Guizhou provinces. In 2007, Sichuan has contributed 11.3% of the country's overall phosphorus mineral with a record of 5.11 Million metric tons.

Sichuan phosphorus resources are mainly located in Jinhe-Qingping area and Mabian area, which are less than 100 km far away from the epicenter Wenchuan. Jinhe, Qingping and Shifang are three major phosphorus mines that reserved over 95% of Sichuan 's total output.

Sadly, the majority of these mines were scrapped now. The estimation of reconstructing a new mining base will consume more than a year's time. These areas used to be rich with phosphate rock but the quake has altered its geologic configuration, and its future prospect is unforeseeable.

The national phosphorus chemical ecology is undergoing a tremendous change now. An analysis report estimated that prices of phosphorus mineral and yellow phosphorus are likely to rise.

In aim of a safe Beijing Olympics, Shanghai Police Department will take effective measures to control weapon, high-toxic chemicals and radioactive isotope strictly. Details are as below (selected chapters):

1. May 20 th - May 24 th & July 1 st - August 22 nd

Stop approving transportation of any dangerous goods to or via Beijing or other host cities are PROHIBITED. (excluding May 20 th - May 24 th )

Transportation within Shanghai must be approved in advance by Shanghai Police Department.

2. May 20 th - May 24 th , July 25 th - August 22 nd

Stop approving any authorization to buy high-toxic chemicals, except some necessary chemicals.

The State Environmental Protection Administration of China had recently announced first 141 export items crossing six industries classified as “high-polluting, high environmental risk” products. The blacklist has covered 39 export products which are eligible for export tax rebates, including pesticides, coating materials, batteries and organic arsenic. Amongst all, 24 items are under the category of pesticide.

As an urgent force to implement the green trade policy, SEPA urged the financial and taxation authorities to remove export tax rebates for the listed products and ban the processing trade. “High pollution” refers to serious environmental pollution and difficult treatment of waste; “high environmental risk” refers to those products' exposure hazard to human being and the environment.

Sodium dichromate production is one example of the out-to-date processing technology that the majority of Chinese plants are still using nowadays. Chromium calcium in the residues is identified as strong carcinogen by WHO. A t present, China has accumulated over 4 million tons of untreated chromium residue, and a new release of 500,000 tons a year, threatening the public health and our living environment. The country is forced to invest huge sum of money for waste treatment. SEPA estimated the cost for waste-control of high-risk products accounts for 10%-30% of overall production cost.

In order to curb the pollution issues before it is unbearable, China will take immediate action to strictly limit the production of high-risk products. By removing its export tax rebate policy, prices of Chinese agrochemicals will undoubtedly increase for another 5-17%, if the new proposal is finally taken into effect.

Names of 24 listed pesticides:

1.   Phorate
2.   Isocarbophos
3.   Isofenphos-methyl
4.   Terbufos
5.   Aldicarb
6.   Carbofuran
7.   Methomyl
8.   Bromomethane
9.   Zinc Phosphide
10.   Warfarin
11.   Counmatetralyl
12.   Bromadiolone
13.   Brodifacoum
14.   Diphacine (sodium)
15.   Lindane
16.   Pentachlorophenol (sodium)
17.   Dicofol
18.   Methamidophos
19.   Parathion-methyl
20.   Parathion
21.   Monocrotophos
22.   Phosphorus amine
23.   DDT
24.   Dechlorane Mirex