China’s Genetic Resource Conservation System: Development History, Existing Issues, and Recommendations

As a country with a long history of agricultural civilization, China possesses ample genetic germplasm resources. For historical reasons, the conservation of genetic germplasm resources in China has received insufficient attention. Following the foundation of New China, especially since the reform and opening-up period and with the development of the social rule of law, China has gradually established a legal protection system for genetic germplasm resources. This system takes the Seed Law as the core, and the Regulations on the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, the Regulations on the Protection of Wild Plants, the Animal Husbandry Law, and the Patent Law as the supporting laws and regulations. Taken together, these regulations constitute the legal system for the protection of genetic resources. However, a number of issues remain unresolved, including the lack of consistency and completeness of the protection system. The legislation on genetic germplasm resources should be considered as a single and consistent mechanism. Multi-dimensional protection should be elevated to the level of national sovereignty. The awareness among all citizens regarding the importance of protecting genetic germplasm resources should be enhanced.