China MEE Promulgates Revised National Standard for Soil Environmental Monitoring Technical Specifications

On February 9, 2026, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) promulgated the revised national environmental standard, Technical Specifications for Soil Environmental Monitoring (HJ 166-2026). This standard, which updates the 2004 version, will take effect on June 1, 2026. It establishes technical requirements for soil environmental monitoring across several areas, including the development of monitoring plans, determination of monitoring items and frequency, placement of monitoring points, sample collection, and the preparation, transportation, storage, and analysis of samples, as well as quality assurance and control.