China is beefing
up its control of the outflow and inflow of human genetic resources
from or into the country.
According to a notice recently issued jointly by the Chinese
Ministry of Health and State Administration of Quality Supervision,
Inspection and Quarantine, organizations or individuals should
apply to authorities for a permit to take, mail or transport human
genetic materials out of China.
Those who take or send human genetic materials out of China
without authoritative permission will face legal penalties and
punishment, said the notice.
Human genetic resources, which include human genome, human
organs, tissues, cells and blood, are essential to pharmaceutical
and health care industries.
China has a vast population and a host of ethnic groups. The
country has issued in recent years a series of regulations and
relevant laws to protect its plentiful human genetic resources.
Meanwhile, the notice also specifies the tightened management of
the inflow and outflow of other special materials used for medical
purposes, including human materials, pathogenic animalcule and
scientific samples.
(Xinhua News Agency October 10, 2003)