New rules to regulate genetic research

The State Council, China's Cabinet, issued rules on Monday that will sanction entities that illegally handle human genetic resources derived from China with fines of up to 10 million yuan ($1.44 million), in an effort to enhance regulation, management and supervision over Chinese genetic biomaterial and related research.

The document contains six sections and 47 items with detailed rules and sanctions. The regulations will take effect from July 1.

Human genetic resources include human genome information and actual genetic material, such as organs, tissues, cells and other biological matter that contains genetic information. The regulations are a much-anticipated completed version of the interim regulations on human genetic resources launched in June 1998, which have been serving as one of the foundations of China's bioethics and biosciences development.