China's State Council, or cabinet, has issued a new regulation on the protection of paleontology fossils, part of the country's efforts to protect its extensive fossil heritage by introducing stricter approval systems for legitimate exploration, transfer and exchanges of fossils.

The regulation, which will take effect beginning Jan. 1 next year, bans the taking of paleontology fossils that have not yet been identified and stipulates any exhibition of fossils under state protection must be approved by the government before being taken to a foreign country.

Paleontology fossils refer to the body and trace fossils of animals and plants formed and preserved in the earth during any geological period of history. Fossils related to ancient vertebrates and ancient humans in the Quaternary Period are subject to rules of protection of China's cultural relics.

Under the regulation, land and resources authorities of the State Council are entitled to trace and claim paleontology fossils that were illegally transported outside its border.

State-owned entities are not allowed to sell, exchange, or give away paleontology fossils to private entities or individuals, and paleontology fossils are not allowed to be sold, exchanged, given away or pledged to foreigners or foreign-owned organizations, according to the regulation.

Government staff will be penalized if they illegally possess or fail to halt the taking away of fossils.

An official with the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council said Friday that the regulation is more comprehensive than the Management Measures on the Protection of Paleontology Fossils, China's current regulation on fossil protection, enacted in 2002.

The new regulation has mapped out more details on the supervision, prohibition and penalties with regard to over-exploitation and smuggling of fossils, said the official.