BEIJING -?The production and use of ozone layer depleting substances in China would be strictly controlled, according to a regulation made public Friday by the State Council, or cabinet.

According to the regulation, the country will set a national limit on the overall amount of production and use of such substances annually and allocate a quota to businesses.

Entities which need to produce or use the ozone layer depleting substances should apply for the quota annually, the regulation said.

Exports and imports of such substances would also be strictly administrated.

However, use of such substances for household electrical appliance such as refrigerators and air-conditioners was not governed by the regulation, a spokesperson with the Legislation Affairs Office of the State Council said Friday.

Environment protection authorities and other relevant authorities in China should draft a national plan to phase out, and finally eliminate such substances, the regulation said.

The plan would be put into effect and carried out after the approval of the State Council.

China has been observing the obligations provided in the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer over the past two decades and has made remarkable achievements, the spokesperson said.

The regulation was aimed to better fulfill China's international duties, promote the adjustment and optimization of China's industrial structure and save energy, the spokesperson said.

The regulation is to take effect June 1.