China's top court on Thursday issued a set of provisions on the application of laws in ecological and environmental cases, marking the first judicial interpretation supporting the country's Ecological and Environmental Code.

The 13-article provisions clarify general standards and specific rules for how courts should handle the transition between old and new laws after the code takes effect, according to the Supreme People's Court (SPC).

Under the provisions, the law applied to an ecological and environmental case will generally depend on when the events that led to the case occurred. For cases arising from events before the code takes effect, courts will, in principle, apply the laws and judicial interpretations that were in force at the time. For cases involving events that occur after the code takes effect, courts will apply the provisions of the code.

The provisions are designed to ensure a smooth legal transition and facilitate the full and accurate implementation of the Ecological and Environmental Code, the SPC said.

The provisions will take effect on August 15, the same day as the Ecological and Environmental Code comes into force.