The Chinese zinc industry has been asked to offer responses by mid-September to a government proposal on stricter import thresholds for zinc concentrate despite strong opposition.
Under the current standards for zinc, in place since 2006, imported concentrates may contain a maximum of 0.6% arsenic, 0.3% cadmium and 0.06% mercury, according to the Ministry of Finance. The consultation document, issued on Thursday August 8, proposes a tougher standard on two of these chemicals: 0.4% for arsenic and 0.02% for mercury, leaving cadmium unchanged at a...