On June 20, 2020, the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China released their NPC Standing Committee 2020 Legislation Work Plan. The plan includes amendments to the Copyright law, a draft of which was already released earlier this year, and the Patent law, a draft of which was released over a year ago. Additional legislative projects relating to intellectual property law include promulgating a new personal information protection law and a new data security law.
Per the plan, there are currently 12 projects under review:
LAW | STATUS/REVIEW DATE |
Civil Code | Adopted |
Law on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Waste | Adopted |
Biosecurity Law | April |
Public Officers Administrative Punishment Act | June |
Patent Law | June |
Export Control Law | June |
Archives Law | June |
Minor Protection Law | June |
City Maintenance and Construction Tax Law | August |
Deed tax law | August |
Law on the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency | August |
Yangtze River Protection Law | October |
There are 29 laws undergoing a first review:
1. Decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanism of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to safeguard national security (passed)
2. Decision on comprehensively prohibiting illegal wildlife trade, eradicating the abuse of wild animals, and effectively guaranteeing the health and safety of the people (passed)
3. Animal Epidemic Prevention Law (Revised) (already submitted for review)
4. Copyright Law (Revision) (already submitted for review)
5. Law of the People’s Armed Police (Revised) (already submitted for review)
6. Organic Law of the National People’s Congress (Revision), Rules of Procedure of the National People’s Congress (Revision)
7. Electoral Law of the National People’s Congress and Local People’s Congresses at all levels (revised)
8. National Flag Law (Revision), National Emblem Law (Revision)
9. Administrative Penalty Law (Revision)
10. Administrative Review Law (Revision)
11. Public Security Management Penalty Law (Revision)
12. Maritime Traffic Safety Law (Revision)
13. Wildlife Protection Law (Revision)
14. Frontier Health and Quarantine Law (Revision)
15. Infectious Disease Prevention Law (Revision), Emergency Response Law (Revision)
16. Military Service Law (Revision)
17. Safety Production Law (Revision)
18. Criminal Law Amendment (11)
19. Ombudsman Act
20. Land Border Law
21. Personal Information Protection Law
22. Data Security Law
23. Village Promotion Promotion Act
24. Futures Law
25. Hainan Free Trade Port Law
26. Social Assistance Law
27. Retired Army Support Law
28. Legal Aid Law
29. Anti-Organized Crime Law
We’ll publish more information as further details are released.