China's Ministry of Environmental Protection is embroiled in a dispute over allegedly banning a company from importing used wooden beams from Canada.

A case against the ministry was heard in Beijing's No 1 Intermediate People's Court on Wednesday.

The company had attempted to import the beams, which had been laid across a railroad in Canada, to China for anti-decay wood development. According to Canada's regulations the move must go through environmental protection evaluation in the destination country.

China's top environmental protection authority believed the beams constituted solid waste and banned their importation.

The company disagreed and sued the ministry.

The court has not yet released a verdict.

luowangshu@chinadaily.com.cn