China News Service, March 20th. According to the website of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, recently, the General Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued a notice on strengthening cooperation and management of crop germplasm resources. In order to further strengthen the cooperation and management of crop germplasm resources, the notice clearly states that it is necessary to effectively improve legal awareness, comprehensively investigate the behavior of germplasm resources cooperation and exchanges, conduct examination and approval in accordance with laws and regulations, and conduct in-depth training and publicity.
The notice said that in recent years, with the acceleration of the opening process of China's seed industry, the cooperation and exchange of crop germplasm resources has gradually increased, which has effectively promoted the development of science and technology in agriculture and the seed industry. However, the legal awareness of individual units is weak, and problems of cooperating and exchanging germplasm resources have occurred from time to time. In 2019, relevant state departments found that China Agricultural University signed a cooperation agreement with an overseas institution without approval, involving the use of corn germplasm resources in China to carry out related research, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has ordered it to rectify within a time limit.
The notice stated that legal awareness should be effectively raised. All localities should learn from the violations of China Agricultural University's unapproved and unauthorized cooperation with foreign institutions to conduct germplasm resource exchanges, and draw lessons from it. The "Seed Law" stipulates that the state enjoys sovereignty over germplasm resources. Any unit or individual that provides germplasm resources to overseas countries or cooperates with overseas institutions and individuals in research and utilization of germplasm resources must perform approval procedures in accordance with the law; , And deal with it according to law. The agricultural and rural departments, relevant units and individuals at all levels should strengthen the concept of rule of law, legal awareness, adhere to the law and rely on it, and strictly implement the "Seed Law" and related laws and regulations.
In addition, comprehensive investigations on cooperation and exchange of germplasm resources were conducted. All relevant universities, research institutes, and enterprises engaged in the collection, protection, and utilization of germplasm resources must be fully investigated, and germplasm resources exported to overseas without approval, or cooperate with overseas institutions and individuals to conduct research and use germplasm resources. Provincial agricultural and rural departments must stop in time and deal with them according to the situation. For the benefit of both parties of the cooperation, the cooperation contract is complete, and the application and examination and approval procedures are not fulfilled, and must be remedied within a time limit; those who do not meet the requirements of the cooperation shall be ordered to stop cooperation; those who violate the laws and regulations shall be dealt with according to law.
At the same time, the examination and approval shall be done in accordance with laws and regulations. Provincial agricultural and rural departments shall, in accordance with laws and regulations such as the "Seed Law" and in accordance with the "Provision to the Overseas or Cooperate with Overseas Institutions and Individuals" issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to conduct research on the use of crop, edible fungi, tobacco, and Chinese herbal medicine germplasm resources According to the requirements of the "Examination and Approval Guide" (see attachment), guide and supervise relevant units and individuals to submit applications. It is necessary to strengthen supervision during and after the event and maintain a good order of germplasm cooperation and communication.
The notice also mentioned in-depth training and publicity. Provincial agricultural and rural departments should focus on relevant agricultural universities, research institutes, and enterprises, organize training on laws and regulations related to germplasm resources, and increase the awareness and ability of relevant personnel to learn the law, abide by the law, and act in accordance with the law. It is necessary to combine the study and implementation of the Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Strengthening the Protection and Utilization of Agricultural Germplasm Resources (Guobanfa [2019] No. 56), explore and carry out activities such as germplasm resource protection publicity week and journalism, and strengthen publicity and guidance. Create a good atmosphere for cooperation and exchange of germplasm resources in accordance with laws and regulations. The germplasm resource protection unit shall implement the main responsibility, improve the management system, and effectively regulate the cooperation and exchange of germplasm resources.