China's continued crackdown to clean and regulate its rare earths metals (REM) sector have produced a list of the first 15 REM enterprises that have passed the environmental protection check-up and obtained clearance to operate.

Tao Detian, spokesman of China's Ministry of Environmental Protection, said on Thursday the enterprises were selected from 84 companies that passed inspections by environmental watchdogs in 14 provincial divisions, the Xinhua News reported.

No specified names however were given.

Currently, China has more than 300 business and firms in its REM sector.

During the inspections, the ministry evaluated each miner's environmental impact to the local community and ecology, pollution control measures and endeavors to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. It found several enterprises did not comply submitting environmental impact assessment reports, while others were not properly disposing their dangerous industrial waste, Tao said.

With the continued inspections, enterprises not on the list will be forced to comply to regulations and strict monitoring procedures, otherwise businesses might be suspended or closed permanently.

Environmental impact assessment reports on any new rare earth projects unless they are submitted by enterprises that are on the list will not be accepted, Tao said.

Without an environmental impact assessment report, no industrial projects can be legally approved in China, he added.

Enterprises that failed the inspections were urged to change practices, while operations of those that have seriously violated environmental laws will be suspended as well as forced to pay fines, Tao said.

Tao noted the inspections will be later expanded to include highly-polluting industries such as steel production, leather making, lead-acid battery manufacturing, citric acid production and ethyl alcohol production.

Read more:

World Supply of Rare Earths To Get Affected by Chinese Inspections

U.S., Australia Boost Rare Earths Exploration as China Controls Production