There were 1200 tanneries in the county in 2002 that produced nearly 4 million yuan ($630,000) of annual income. Pig leather production in the area accounted for one quarter of national production. By 2007 the county cut the number of tanneries to 57 as pollution severely threatened the health of the population in the lower reach area. The local government has actively encouraged tanneries to transform their production from leather making into finished leather products manufacturing.
Beamhouse processing in the area is expected to be banned by the end of this year and leather making in the area will be totally removed from June 2014 say the local government.
Source: CLIA
