4 Moon 21 On [date], the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released the "Normative Conditions for the Rare Earth Industry." (2016 Yearbook ) The “Regulations on the Public Solicitation of Comments on the Standardized Conditions for the Rare Earth Industry” and the “Administrative Measures for the Announcement of Standardized Conditions for the Rare Earth Industry” are now open for public comment.

　　Normative Conditions for the Rare Earth Industry (2016 Yearbook ) It is proposed that mining enterprises shall carry out mining operations strictly in accordance with the approved development and utilization plans and mining schedules. It is strictly prohibited to engage in mining without a license, to exceed boundary limits, or to exceed the total production control targets. It is also strictly prohibited to adopt mining and beneficiation processes that damage the environment or waste resources.

　　In terms of production scale, the production scale of hybrid rare-earth mining enterprises should not be less than... 20000 ton / Year ( Based on oxides, the same applies hereafter. ) ; The production scale of fluorocarbon cerium mining enterprises should not be less than 5000 ton / Year; the production scale of ion-adsorption rare earth mining enterprises should not be less than 500 ton / Year. The mining of single monazite deposits is prohibited. The production scale of independent smelting and separation enterprises using mixed rare-earth ores shall not be less than... 8000 ton / Year; the production scale of independent smelting and separation enterprises using fluorocarbon cerium ore should not be less than 5000 ton / Year; the production scale of independent smelting and separation enterprises using ion-adsorption rare earth ores should not be less than 3000 ton / Year. The minimum equity ratio for all types of fixed-asset investment projects mentioned above shall not be lower than: 20%。

　　In terms of technology and equipment, rare-earth mining and smelting/separation enterprises should adopt clean production processes that feature low pollution, low emissions, low energy consumption, and high economic efficiency, and promote the use of mature technologies listed in the "Guidance Catalogue of Clean Production Technologies for Key National Industries." For the development of mixed-type rare-earth ores and fluorocarbon cerium ores, comprehensive facilities for treating the three types of waste—waste gas, wastewater, and solid waste—as well as dedicated waste rock dumps and tailings ponds, must be established. In the development of ion-adsorption rare-earth ores, production processes suitable for both resource conservation and environmental protection, such as in-situ leaching, should be employed; the use of outdated processes like heap leaching and pond leaching—prohibited by national regulations—is strictly forbidden. Rare-earth smelting and separation projects must adopt clean and efficient extraction and separation processes, and the use of outdated processes banned by the state is strictly prohibited.

　　In terms of resource utilization, the mining loss rate and dilution rate for mixed rare-earth ores and fluorocarbon cerium ores must not exceed. 10% The recovery rate for ore beneficiation should generally reach: 75% Above, the recovery rate for beneficiation of low-grade, difficult-to-process rare earth ores should reach: 65% Above, the recycling rate of production water should reach: 85% The above—The comprehensive recovery rate for the mining and beneficiation of ion-adsorption rare earth ores should reach: 75% Above, the recycling rate of production water should reach: 90% The above-mentioned smelting and separation project for processing mixed rare-earth ores and fluorocarbon cerium ores should achieve a total rare-earth recovery rate greater than: from rare-earth concentrate to mixed rare earths. 92% From mixed rare earths to single or enriched rare earth compounds, the overall rare earth recovery rate should exceed. 96% For smelting and separation projects involving ion-adsorption rare earth ores—from mixed rare earths to single or enriched rare earth compounds—the overall rare earth recovery rate should exceed. 94%。