Taipei, April 5 -- Taiwan's Ministry of Environment has introduced a revised set of regulations that will gradually increase water pollution control fees starting next year, targeting a broader range of hazardous substances and aiming to strengthen industrial accountability under the "polluter pays" principle, Taipei Times reported.

In the first major fee adjustment in a decade, the rules will raise charges on substances such as lead, nickel, copper, mercury, cadmium, chromium, arsenic, and cyanide, while also extending coverage to zinc, tin, and ammonia nitrogen, the Department of Water Quality Protection said. Fees have remained unchanged since the current regulations on water pollution fees for enterprises and sewage systems were enac...