Bottles containing genetic resources are seen at the Academy of Agricultural Science in Yunnan province. China will enhance its protection of high-quality germplasm resources, according to a draft amendment of the Seed Law. (File photo/yunnan.cn)
(ECNS) -- China will enhance its protection of high-quality germplasm resources, according to a draft amendment of the Seed Law.
The draft states that foreigners and foreign companies or organizations must apply for approval for research from agriculture and forestry administrative departments of the State Council, China's Cabinet.
The provision of China's germplasm resources to foreign countries is prohibited without permission from regulators, according to the current ruling.
However, there are no regulations regarding collaborative research of germplasm resources in the country, which has lead to the loss of some such resources in the name of research, according to Liu Zhenwei, vice chairman of NPC's Agriculture and Rural committee.
Additional policies have been added to the new bill to protect China's ownership of germplasm resources and to prevent their loss overseas, it was added.
