Abstract: Lake eutrophication has been one of the most prominent environmental problems in China in recent years. Current water quality standard in China is short of nutrient standard system on account of nutrient criterion. It is badly in need of establishing nutrient standard system appropriate to China’s socioeconomic situations. Due to the lack of research on nutrient criteria in water quality, foreign experience may be helpful. The nutrient standard systems of the USA and other developed countries were introduced, and the procedure and technical methods to develop lake nutrient standards of USEPA and several states reviewed. The methods to select the nutrient variables and to determine the standard levels in foreign countries were focus. Finally, the methods and techniques of nutrient standard establishment based on nutrient criteria in China were discussed.