China passes first biosecurity law in wake of Covid-19 pandemic
- Legislation includes measures that range from protection of biodiversity to measures to control biological laboratories and prevent terrorist attacks
- Observers say the measures were rushed through following the emergence of the coronavirus late last year
China has passed its first biosecurity law, highlighting the importance the Chinese leadership attaches to the issue following the Covid-19 pandemic.
The new law has 10 chapters and a total of 88 articles, covering issues such as the prevention and control of infectious diseases, establishment of a risk monitoring and early warning system, track and trace mechanisms, the management of biological laboratories, biodiversity protection and measures to prevent biological attacks by terrorists.
The legislation was adopted by the country’s top legislative body, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, on Saturday after having been apparently fast-tracked following the emergence of Covid-19 in Wuhan late last year.
It also comes ahead of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in Yunnan province in May.
Yuan Jie, an official from the legislative affairs committee of the NPC Standing Committee, told state media that the new law would be the “foundation” for safeguarding national security and would pave the way for other legislation.