China's Ministry of Emergency Management has issued revised rules governing safety production permits for coal mining enterprises, requiring all coal mines, their parent corporate entities and surface coalbed methane (CBM) producers to obtain permits before commencing operations.

The new measures, published as Order No. 22 on September 4 and effective Jan 1, 2027, replace the previous version issued in 2016 and amended in 2017. 

Under the rules, permits are issued at the provincial level with oversight by local regulators, and approval authority cannot be delegated. The National Mine Safety Administration will guide and supervise the nationwide permit issuance process.

Coal mines must apply for permits on a per-mine basis, including individual shafts and open pits. Coal mines operating under multi-level management structures are required to have their parent corporate entity submit the application for a production safety license, while mines extracting CBM from their own seams are exempt from separate permit requirements.

The rules detail safety conditions covering safety responsibility systems, investment in safety measures, dedicated safety management institutions, qualified personnel, work injury insurance coverage and compliance with legal requirements.

Underground mines face additional requirements including at least two accessible surface exits no less than 30 meters apart, independent ventilation systems, gas monitoring and drainage systems, dual power supply lines, and fire prevention measures. Open-pit mines must meet standards for slope design, safety barriers, blasting material management and slope monitoring.

CBM surface extraction enterprises must establish full safety responsibility systems, conduct safety assessments and emergency preparedness, and hold valid mining rights certificates.

Permit applications require extensive documentation including safety assessment reports, gas level classification documents, mining licenses, geological and ventilation maps, and qualification certificates for special operations personnel.

The permit issuance authority must decide within 45 days of receiving an application, with permits valid for three years. Renewal applications must be submitted three months before expiry, though mines meeting all safety conditions including top-level safety standardization ratings may qualify for direct renewal without further review.

Changes in key personnel, company names, ownership structures, or mining technical conditions such as gas levels or hydrogeological classifications require permit amendments within 10 working days of the relevant change.

The rules prohibit transferring, lending, renting or forging permits. Violations carry penalties including fines of 100,000-500,000 yuan for illegal permit transfers, with criminal liability for serious cases.

Companies submitting false information face a one-year ban on reapplication, while those obtaining permits through fraud or bribery face a three-year ban. Safety evaluation and testing institutions issuing false reports will be penalized under relevant regulations.

Regulatory authorities must publish permit issuance information annually and report to the National Mine Safety Administration by Jan 15 each year. Existing permits remain valid until expiry, and CBM enterprises established before the rules take effect must obtain permits within one year.