Local authorities of Baotou City – a major rare earth producing center in China – is launching a crackdown on illegal rare earth mining and trading operations, with 28 companies targeted for inspections, local media reported.

The inspections, conducted according to a notice on clamping down on illegal operations in rare earth industry issued by eight ministries, including the Ministry of Industry & Information Technology, will last till the end of March.

The 28 companies listed include 15 rare earth separating companies and 13 trading companies.