[Mechanism for transformation of environmental criteria into environmental standards in China].

In order to provide scientific basis for developing more reasonable and effective environmental standards (ESs), China has taken its own environmental criteria (EC) research strategy in recent years. For the purpose of developing a transformation mechanism from EC to ESs suitable for China, current EC and ESs in China were compared with those in some developed countries, such as the USA, Canada and Australia. Four common characteristics of transformation from EC to ESs in developed countries and corresponding problems in China were drawn through the comparison, based on which a framework for transformation from EC to ESs was established. The framework was composed by three parts: (1) relevant national and local agencies and responsibilities; (2) steps for transformation including affecting factors and their interactions; (3) and policies for solving current problems in China.