China’s Ministry of Commerce has released standards and application procedures for its domestic rare earth sector for 2013.

The ministry stated that only companies that exported material between 2009 and 2011 are eligible to apply for the new export quotas.

It also confirmed 12that REE producers will need to undergo and pass an environmental inspection by China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection to be eligible, and that raw materials will need to have originated from licensed rare earth mines.

Meanwhile, REE traders are required to have registered capital of at least $8.02 million and to have exported rare earths between 2009 and 2011 to continue trading. Chinese rare earth exporters noted that this year’s application procedure is stricter than in previous years.

All relevant material must be submitted to the Ministry by December 14.