The Ministry of Environmental Protection on Thursday announced a list of the first 15 rare earth metal enterprises that have passed the ministry's environmental protection check.

The enterprises were selected from 84 companies that passed inspections by environmental watchdogs in 14 provincial divisions, said Tao Detian, the ministry's spokesman.

China currently has more than 300 enterprises working in the rare earth metal industry.

Environmental protection departments across China will not accept environmental impact assessment reports on any new rare earth projects unless they are submitted by enterprises that are on the list, Tao said.

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