The China Ministry of Science and Technology has recently approved to create 22 new national key labs, including the one to study environment chemistry and ecological toxicity. The effort marks the beginning of constructing the new labs.

The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) issues on June 2004, a guide for creating new national key labs in 19 fields, including population and health, resources environment, energy, public good research, and some cutting edge fields. 44 applications were accepted for consideration, based on the recommendations made by interesting government agencies. MOST organized two rounds of expert review, including materials review and field investigations during August-September of the same year. Expert review led to the agreed establishment of possible 23 new labs. During the period from December 2004 to January 2005, a feasibility study was initiated by MOST to verify the construction plans for 22 labs, including the environment chemistry and ecological toxicity lab.  The study defined missions and rolled out concrete and feasible construction plans for new labs. 

A national key lab usually expects a construction period no longer than two years. During the construction, labs are supposed to further refine their scientific development objectives, raise research levels, and strive for noticeable progresses in building a scientific team, constructing experimental and research platforms, and establishing a sound operation management system. They are also expected to become major bases for high-level scientific researches, attracting and training high caliber scientists, and academic exchanges.