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Environmental Public Interest Litigation (EPIL)
In China, Environmental Public Interest Litigation (EPIL) lawsuits are legal actions brought by social organizations and other entities on behalf of the public against activities that cause environmental pollution, ecological damage and public interest harm.

Before the revised Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China took into effect in Jan. 1st 2015, Environmental Public Interest Litigation (EPIL) in China experienced a long and hard journey. That was due to the lack of legal basis.

Previously, there is nearly no room for civil society to file lawsuits against polluting companies on behalf of public interest. On Jan. 1, China changed its Environmental Protection Law to allow cases involving accusations of pollution by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as long as they are registered and can demonstrate that they have been actively concerned with environmental issues for five years before their suits are filed.