BEIJING, July 28 (Xinhua) -- In an effort to bring rampant pollution under control, China on Friday re-interpreted laws in order to make it easier to convict polluters and officials responsible for environmental crises.

According to a new interpretation handed down by the Supreme People's Court (SPC), polluters and negligent officials responsible for environmental hazards that cause even a single death can be convicted for environmental crimes.

Convictions are also possible in cases where at least three people receive serious wounds, or ten get minor wounds, the interpretations said.

If convicted, the accused face prison sentences of up to three years.

If three people are killed in an environmental accident, those responsible can be imprisoned for three to seven years, according to the new interpretations.

The severe prison terms also apply to people convicted of causing environmental accidents that injure more than 30 people or seriously injure at least ten people, the interpretations said.

Currently, China's environmental laws target people who cause major pollution to the air, water, or soil, people who dump environmentally dangerous foreign waste in China, and officials whose slack administration leads to major environmental crises.

Prison terms are usually less than three years. Enditem