Peng Chi-ming: Shortening Air Pollution Permit Extension Period Will Impact Hospitals, Hotels, and Civilian Industries
Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming warns that proposed amendments to Taiwan's Air Pollution Control Act, which would shorten permit extension periods, could severely impact 8,000 businesses, including hospitals, hotels, and restaurants. He argues it would create operational difficulties for local governments, cause uncertainty for industries, and potentially lead to power supply issues.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 29, 2026 at 11:50
- 🔍 Collected: April 29, 2026 at 12:01 (11 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 29, 2026 at 12:05 (3 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Chen Junhua, Taipei 29th) The Legislative Yuan's Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee today reviewed amendments to the Air Pollution Control Act, which propose to shorten the permit extension period. Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming stated that the amendments would cause operational difficulties for local governments and uncertainty for industries, severely impacting approximately 8,000 civilian businesses such as hospitals, hotels, and restaurants.
The Legislative Yuan's Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee invited Peng Chi-ming, Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Lai Jian-xin, and others to attend and review parts of the draft amendment to the Air Pollution Control Act.
Legislator Luo Ting-wei of the Kuomintang and the Taiwan People's Party caucus proposed shortening the permit extension period to 2 to 5 years, adding that operations would be prohibited if not approved by the deadline, and further including provisions for directly changing permit contents if there is a "risk to public health" or it is "deemed necessary for reduction."
Peng Chi-ming stated in an interview before the meeting that the Ministry of Environment naturally hopes to gradually tighten regulations, and air pollutant emissions have significantly decreased in recent years. This amendment shortens the permit extension period from 3-5 years to 2-5 years. However, currently, about 8,000 businesses including hospitals, hotels, restaurants, industries, and power companies have approximately 13,000 permits, 60% of which are for hospitals and boiler usage.
Peng Chi-ming said that shortening the period would create difficulties for local governments' operations. Because each review involves on-site inspections by the Ministry of Environment and local environmental protection bureaus, if operations are to be directly halted if the deadline is exceeded, "it would be difficult to distinguish whether it is the government's responsibility or the private sector's responsibility."
Peng Chi-ming also stated that the draft amendment's addition of "risk to public health," for example, if a certain county or city considers sulfur oxides serious, it can be added independently, which would cause industries to be at a loss and increase significant pressure. The Ministry of Environment expects improved air quality, but questions whether more public hearings can be held to find a universally acceptable approach.
Peng Chi-ming said that the sources and causes of air pollution are numerous, not just these boilers; transportation in daily life also contributes. If amendments are to be made, he suggested extending the time for more public hearings and collecting more opinions, emphasizing that not only industry opinions but also those of local environmental protection bureaus are very important.
Peng Chi-ming stated that the PM2.5 levels have actually decreased gradually over the years, and Taiwan's system is very similar to those in the US and EU, both having reduction functions. If the amendments are passed, civilian industries such as hospitals, hotels, and restaurants will be severely impacted, not just the power industry.
Lai Jian-xin reported that the amendment draft stipulates that if local governments fail to complete reviews within two months, operations must be directly halted. This would not only increase industries' operating costs and uncertainty but also potentially cause nationwide power supply problems. The amendment could reduce electricity supply and the resilience of industrial supply chains, and is expected to affect 8,000 businesses comprehensively. He urged to maintain the current system.
Lai Jian-xin pointed out that empowering local governments with more discretionary power through the amendment could lead to different management standards between central and local governments, leaving enterprises at a loss. If the amendment shortens the extension period and permits expire before review completion, industries would face the risk of shutdown, potentially significantly shortening the validity period of permits for most power plants and high-tech industries in western Taiwan, increasing the burden of frequent applications. (Edited by Wan Shu-chang) 1150429
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(Central News Agency reporter Chen Junhua, Taipei 29th) The Legislative Yuan's Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee today reviewed amendments to the Air Pollution Control Act, which propose to shorten the permit extension period. Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming stated that the amendments would cause operational difficulties for local governments and uncertainty for industries, severely impacting approximately 8,000 civilian businesses such as hospitals, hotels, and restaurants.
The Legislative Yuan's Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee invited Peng Chi-ming, Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Lai Jian-xin, and others to attend and review parts of the draft amendment to the Air Pollution Control Act.
Legislator Luo Ting-wei of the Kuomintang and the Taiwan People's Party caucus proposed shortening the permit extension period to 2 to 5 years, adding that operations would be prohibited if not approved by the deadline, and further including provisions for directly changing permit contents if there is a "risk to public health" or it is "deemed necessary for reduction."
Peng Chi-ming stated in an interview before the meeting that the Ministry of Environment naturally hopes to gradually tighten regulations, and air pollutant emissions have significantly decreased in recent years. This amendment shortens the permit extension period from 3-5 years to 2-5 years. However, currently, about 8,000 businesses including hospitals, hotels, restaurants, industries, and power companies have approximately 13,000 permits, 60% of which are for hospitals and boiler usage.
Peng Chi-ming said that shortening the period would create difficulties for local governments' operations. Because each review involves on-site inspections by the Ministry of Environment and local environmental protection bureaus, if operations are to be directly halted if the deadline is exceeded, "it would be difficult to distinguish whether it is the government's responsibility or the private sector's responsibility."
Peng Chi-ming also stated that the draft amendment's addition of "risk to public health," for example, if a certain county or city considers sulfur oxides serious, it can be added independently, which would cause industries to be at a loss and increase significant pressure. The Ministry of Environment expects improved air quality, but questions whether more public hearings can be held to find a universally acceptable approach.
Peng Chi-ming said that the sources and causes of air pollution are numerous, not just these boilers; transportation in daily life also contributes. If amendments are to be made, he suggested extending the time for more public hearings and collecting more opinions, emphasizing that not only industry opinions but also those of local environmental protection bureaus are very important.
Peng Chi-ming stated that the PM2.5 levels have actually decreased gradually over the years, and Taiwan's system is very similar to those in the US and EU, both having reduction functions. If the amendments are passed, civilian industries such as hospitals, hotels, and restaurants will be severely impacted, not just the power industry.
Lai Jian-xin reported that the amendment draft stipulates that if local governments fail to complete reviews within two months, operations must be directly halted. This would not only increase industries' operating costs and uncertainty but also potentially cause nationwide power supply problems. The amendment could reduce electricity supply and the resilience of industrial supply chains, and is expected to affect 8,000 businesses comprehensively. He urged to maintain the current system.
Lai Jian-xin pointed out that empowering local governments with more discretionary power through the amendment could lead to different management standards between central and local governments, leaving enterprises at a loss. If the amendment shortens the extension period and permits expire before review completion, industries would face the risk of shutdown, potentially significantly shortening the validity period of permits for most power plants and high-tech industries in western Taiwan, increasing the burden of frequent applications. (Edited by Wan Shu-chang) 1150429
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you give is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
No text, images, or audio/video from this website may be reproduced, broadcasted publicly, or transmitted and used without authorization.