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Enactment of Law to Protect China's Gene Resources Urged
A lawmaker has asked the National People's Congress (NPC) to enact a law to protect China's gene resources as soon as possible.
Zhang Zhongli, 81, a NPC deputy and former president of the Shanghai Municipal Academy of Social Sciences, said that as a major developing nation, China should "introduce a complete range of legal measures" to protect its gene resources' sovereignty.
China abounds in natural plant, animal and micro-biological species, as well as in gene resources. It has also kept intact a host of unique genes because of a relatively low level of industrialization and small population fluidity.
"These are the precious treasure of the Chinese nation and unrenewable research resources," he noted.
He said, "China is now virtually blank in using legal means to adjust and intervene research into gene science and apply related research findings."
Hence, it is imperative to enact a special law governing the protection of gene resources.
Zhang said that the task of paramount importance is to specify legally that gene resources belong to the state.
He said, "The law should state that without approval no foreign organization or individual may collect gene resources in China, and that without approval no Chinese organization or individual may provide gene resources to a foreign country."
Gene research findings are of enormous realistic and potential commercial value, he said, adding: "we must immediately certify genes' legal patents."
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