The following draft measures from April 2023 describe a process for ethics reviews of Chinese scientific research. Per this draft, research teams at universities, companies, government labs, and so on must set up ethics panels that review any of their research that presents ethical questions. The measures define ethically fraught research as involving human subjects, human genetic or biometric material, laboratory animals, or highly autonomous decision-making systems.

An archived version of the Chinese source text is available online at:    https://perma.cc/L4G7-MT5P

(Trial) Measures for Scientific and Technological Ethics Reviews

(Draft for Feedback)¹

Chapter 1      General Provisions

Article 1 [Purpose and Basis] These Measures have been formulated in accordance with the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Progress of Science and Technology,² the Opinions on Strengthening the Governance of Science and Technology Ethics,³ and other laws and regulations and relevant provisions, in order to regulate scientific and technological (S&T) ethics reviews in scientific research, technology development, and other S&T activities, strengthen the prevention and control of S&T ethical risks, and promote responsible innovation.

Article 2 [Ethical Requirements of S&T Activities] Those carrying out S&T activities shall adhere to the unity of advancing innovation and preventing risks, objectively assess and treat with caution uncertainties and S&T application risks, abide by the S&T ethics principles of promoting human well-being, respecting the right to life, upholding fairness and justice, reasonably controlling risks, and maintaining openness and transparency, and comply with S&T ethics norms.

Article 3 [Scope of Application] The following S&T activities shall be subject to S&T ethics reviews in accordance with these Measures:

(1) S&T activities involving human beings, including testing, surveys, observational studies, etc., in which human participants are involved in research, as well as the use of human genes, human embryos, human biological samples, personal information, etc.;

(2) S&T activities involving laboratory animals;

(3) S&T activities that do not directly involve human beings or laboratory animals but may pose ethical risks and challenges in terms of life and health, the ecological environment, public order, sustainable development, etc.;

(4) S&T activities that require S&T ethics review in accordance with laws, administrative regulations, and relevant national provisions.

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1. Translator’s note: The Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and nine other ministries issued a finalized version of these (Trial) Measures in September 2023. CSET’s English translation of the final (Trial) Measures is available online at: https://cset.georgetown.edu/publication/china-science-ethics-review-trial-measures/.
2. Translator’s note: CSET’s English translation of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Progress of Science and Technology is available online at: https://cset.georgetown.edu/publication/law-of-the-peoples-republic-of-china-on-progress-of-science-and-technology/.
3. Translator’s note: CSET’s English translation of the Opinions on Strengthening the Governance of Science and Technology Ethics is available online at: https://cset.georgetown.edu/publication/china-science-ethics-opinions/.