Capital to introduce Beijing VI fuel emissions standards by 2016

China's capital is leading the charge against pollution with new emissions standards

As smog thickens across Beijing, curbing the toxic pollution continues to rise up the local government's agenda.

At the second plenary session of the standardisation committee, the Municipal Quality Supervision Bureau announced new research into Beijing VI emission standards, with a view to introducing them as early as 2016.

In a recent statement, Bureau Secretary Zhao Shan claimed that the Beijing VI standards were being explored, alongside a host of other environmental protection and urban governance measures aimed at reducing the stifling pollution in the nation's capital.

National IV standards are currently in place in Beijing, however the local government is planning to introduce National V standards in late 2014 or early 2015. The new regulations will look to tighten restrictions on sulphur, benzene, alkenes and other environmentally unfriendly components.