Animal Husbandry Law of the PRC — Full English Translation (2022)

Adopted at the 19th Session of the Standing Committee of the Tenth National People’s Congress on December 29, 2005; revised at the 37th Session of the Standing Committee of the Thirteenth National People’s Congress on October 30, 2022

Effective: March 1, 2023

Table of Contents

Chapter I — General Provisions

Article 1 — This Law is enacted for the purposes of regulating the production and operation activities of animal husbandry, safeguarding the supply, quality and safety of livestock and poultry products, protecting and rationally utilizing livestock and poultry genetic resources, cultivating and promoting improved varieties of livestock and poultry, revitalizing the livestock and poultry breeding industry, protecting the lawful rights and interests of animal husbandry producers and operators, preventing public health risks, and promoting the high-quality development of animal husbandry.

Article 2 — This Law applies to activities such as the protection and utilization of genetic resources, breeding, raising, operation, transportation and slaughtering of livestock and poultry within the territory of the People’s Republic of China.

“Livestock and poultry” as used in this Law refers to livestock and poultry included in the catalogue of livestock and poultry genetic resources published in accordance with Article 12 of this Law.

The provisions of this Law apply to the protection, utilization, production and operation of bee and silkworm resources.

Article 3 — The state supports the development of animal husbandry and gives play to the role of animal husbandry in developing agriculture and the rural economy and increasing farmers’ incomes.

People’s governments at or above the county level shall incorporate the development of animal husbandry into national economic and social development plans, strengthen the construction of animal husbandry infrastructure, encourage and support the development of large-scale, standardized and intelligent farming, promote the combination of crop farming and animal raising and the circular and green development of agriculture and animal husbandry, advance the industrialized operation of animal husbandry, improve the comprehensive production capacity of animal husbandry, and develop safe, high-quality, efficient and ecological animal husbandry.

The state assists and supports the development of animal husbandry in ethnic minority areas and underdeveloped areas, protects and rationally utilizes grasslands, and improves the production conditions of animal husbandry.

Article 4 — The state adopts measures to cultivate professional personnel in animal husbandry and veterinary medicine, strengthen the monitoring of livestock and poultry epidemics and the research and development of livestock and poultry vaccines, improve the primary-level technology promotion system for animal husbandry and veterinary medicine, develop the cause of scientific and technological research and promotion of animal husbandry and veterinary medicine, improve animal husbandry standards, carry out educational and publicity work on animal husbandry and veterinary science and technology knowledge and information services in animal husbandry and veterinary medicine, and promote scientific and technological progress and innovation in animal husbandry.

Article 5 — The agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council shall be responsible for the supervision and administration of animal husbandry nationwide. The agricultural and rural affairs departments of local people’s governments at or above the county level shall be responsible for the supervision and administration of animal husbandry within their respective administrative regions.

The relevant competent departments of people’s governments at or above the county level shall, within their respective functions and duties, be responsible for the relevant work of promoting the development of animal husbandry.

Article 6 — The agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council shall guide animal husbandry producers and operators in improving the conditions and environment for the breeding, raising, transportation and slaughtering of livestock and poultry.

Article 7 — People’s governments at all levels and relevant departments shall strengthen publicity of laws and regulations related to animal husbandry.

Entities and individuals that have made outstanding achievements in the development of animal husbandry shall be commended and rewarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of the state.

Article 8 — Animal husbandry producers and operators may, in accordance with the law, voluntarily establish industry associations to provide members with information, technology, marketing, training and other services, strengthen industry self-discipline, and safeguard the interests of members and the industry.

Article 9 — Animal husbandry producers and operators shall, in accordance with the law, perform their obligations of animal epidemic prevention and ecological environmental protection, and accept supervision and inspection carried out by the relevant competent departments in accordance with the law.

Chapter II — Protection of Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources

Article 10 — The state establishes a protection system for livestock and poultry genetic resources, and carries out work such as resource surveys, protection, identification, registration, monitoring and utilization. People’s governments at all levels shall take measures to strengthen the protection of livestock and poultry genetic resources and include funds for the protection of livestock and poultry genetic resources in their budgets.

The protection of livestock and poultry genetic resources shall be state-led with diverse participation, adhere to the principles of giving priority to protection and efficient utilization, and implement classified and graded protection.

The state encourages and supports relevant entities and individuals in developing the cause of protection of livestock and poultry genetic resources in accordance with the law, and encourages and supports institutions of higher learning, scientific research institutions and enterprises in strengthening basic research on the protection and utilization of livestock and poultry genetic resources and improving their capacity for scientific and technological innovation.

Article 11 — The agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council shall establish a national livestock and poultry genetic resources committee composed of professionals, which shall be responsible for the identification and evaluation of livestock and poultry genetic resources and the examination and approval of new varieties and synthetic lines of livestock and poultry, and undertake demonstration of plans for the protection and utilization of livestock and poultry genetic resources and advisory work related to the protection of livestock and poultry genetic resources.

Article 12 — The agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council shall be responsible for organizing regular surveys of livestock and poultry genetic resources, issuing reports on the state of national livestock and poultry genetic resources, and publishing the catalogue of livestock and poultry genetic resources approved by the State Council.

Domesticated animals that have been formed through domestication and selective breeding, have stable genetic traits, have mature varieties and a certain population size, and are capable of independent reproduction without depending on wild populations, may be included in the catalogue of livestock and poultry genetic resources.

Article 13 — The agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council shall, based on the distribution of livestock and poultry genetic resources, formulate a national plan for the protection and utilization of livestock and poultry genetic resources, formulate, adjust and publish a national-level list of protected livestock and poultry genetic resources, and implement key protection for precious, rare and endangered livestock and poultry genetic resources originating in China.

The agricultural and rural affairs departments of the people’s governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall, based on the national plan for the protection and utilization of livestock and poultry genetic resources and the state of livestock and poultry genetic resources within their respective administrative regions, formulate, adjust and publish provincial-level lists of protected livestock and poultry genetic resources, report them to the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council for filing, and strengthen the protection of local livestock and poultry genetic resources.

Article 14 — The agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council shall, based on the national plan for the protection and utilization of livestock and poultry genetic resources and the national-level list of protected livestock and poultry genetic resources, and the agricultural and rural affairs departments of the people’s governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall, based on provincial-level lists of protected livestock and poultry genetic resources, respectively establish or designate conservation farms, conservation areas and gene banks for livestock and poultry genetic resources, which shall undertake the task of protecting livestock and poultry genetic resources.

Conservation farms, conservation areas and gene banks for livestock and poultry genetic resources that enjoy support from central and provincial-level fiscal funds shall not, without the approval of the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council or the agricultural and rural affairs department of the people’s government of a province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government, dispose of the protected livestock and poultry genetic resources without authorization.

Gene banks of livestock and poultry genetic resources shall, in accordance with the provisions of the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council or the agricultural and rural affairs department of the people’s government of a province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government, regularly collect and update livestock and poultry genetic materials. Relevant entities and individuals shall cooperate with gene banks of livestock and poultry genetic resources in collecting livestock and poultry genetic materials, and shall be entitled to appropriate economic compensation.

Local people’s governments at or above the county level shall guarantee the demand for land for conservation farms and gene banks of livestock and poultry genetic resources. Where it is truly necessary to close or relocate them, approval shall be obtained from the original establishment or designation authority, and in the case of relocation, they shall be properly resettled in accordance with the principle of building before demolition.

The administrative measures for conservation farms, conservation areas and gene banks of livestock and poultry genetic resources shall be formulated by the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council.

Article 15 — Before newly discovered livestock and poultry genetic resources are identified by the national livestock and poultry genetic resources committee, the agricultural and rural affairs departments of the people’s governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall formulate protection plans, take temporary protection measures, and report them to the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council for filing.

Article 16 — Where livestock and poultry genetic resources are to be introduced from abroad, an application shall be submitted to the agricultural and rural affairs department of the people’s government of a province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government; the agricultural and rural affairs department that accepts the application shall, after examination, submit it to the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council for approval after evaluation and demonstration, unless the State Council provides otherwise for the approval authority. Upon approval, the relevant procedures shall be handled and quarantine shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Quarantine of Imported and Exported Animals and Plants.

Where livestock and poultry genetic resources introduced from abroad are found to be harmful or potentially harmful to domestic livestock and poultry genetic resources or the ecological environment, the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council shall, in consultation with the relevant competent departments, promptly take corresponding safety control measures.

Article 17 — The state enjoys sovereignty over livestock and poultry genetic resources. Where livestock and poultry genetic resources included in the protected lists are to be exported abroad, or researched and utilized in China in cooperation with foreign institutions or individuals, an application shall be submitted to the agricultural and rural affairs department of the people’s government of a province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government, together with a plan for state benefit-sharing; the agricultural and rural affairs department that accepts the application shall, after examination, submit it to the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council for approval.

Where livestock and poultry genetic resources are exported abroad, the relevant procedures shall also be handled and quarantine shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Quarantine of Imported and Exported Animals and Plants.

Newly discovered livestock and poultry genetic resources shall not, before identification by the national livestock and poultry genetic resources committee, be exported abroad or researched and utilized in cooperation with foreign institutions or individuals.

Article 18 — The measures for the examination and approval of the entry and exit of livestock and poultry genetic resources and foreign cooperative research and utilization shall be formulated by the State Council.

Chapter III — Breeding and Production and Operation of Breeding Livestock and Poultry Varieties

Article 19 — The state supports the selection and breeding of livestock and poultry varieties and the promotion and use of improved varieties, and implements a national plan for the genetic improvement of livestock and poultry; it supports enterprises, institutions of higher learning, scientific research institutions and technology promotion entities in carrying out joint breeding, and establishes and improves a breeding system for improved livestock and poultry.

People’s governments at or above the county level support the development and utilization of varieties included in the lists of protected livestock and poultry genetic resources, increase the supply of characteristic livestock and poultry products, and meet diversified consumption demands.

Article 20 — The state encourages and supports independent innovation in the livestock and poultry breeding industry, strengthens research on key breeding technologies, and supports the development of innovative enterprises that combine selection, breeding, production and operation.

Article 21 — Newly bred varieties and synthetic lines of livestock and poultry and newly discovered livestock and poultry genetic resources shall, before being sold or promoted, pass the examination or identification of the national livestock and poultry genetic resources committee and be announced by the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council. The measures for the examination and approval of new varieties and synthetic lines of livestock and poultry and the measures for the identification of livestock and poultry genetic resources shall be formulated by the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council. The expenses for the tests, testing and other work required for examination or identification shall be borne by the applicants.

The lawful rights and interests of breeders of new varieties and synthetic lines of livestock and poultry shall be protected by law.

Article 22 — The introduction, breeding, testing, examination and promotion of genetically modified livestock and poultry varieties shall comply with the relevant provisions of the state on the safety administration of agricultural genetically modified organisms.

Article 23 — Technology promotion institutions for animal husbandry and veterinary medicine at or above the provincial level shall organize and carry out quality monitoring of breeding livestock and registration of excellent individual animals, and recommend excellent breeding livestock to the public. The rules for the registration of excellent breeding livestock shall be formulated by the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council.

Article 24 — Entities and individuals engaged in the production and operation of breeding livestock and poultry, or in the production and operation of commercial-generation young livestock and chicks, shall obtain a production and operation license for breeding livestock and poultry.

To apply for a production and operation license for breeding livestock and poultry, the following conditions shall be met:

(1) the breeding livestock and poultry produced or operated are varieties or synthetic lines that have passed the examination or identification of the national livestock and poultry genetic resources committee, or are foreign varieties or synthetic lines introduced with approval;

(2) there are animal husbandry and veterinary technical personnel commensurate with the scale of production and operation;

(3) there are breeding facilities and equipment commensurate with the scale of production and operation;

(4) the epidemic prevention conditions for breeding livestock and poultry prescribed by laws, administrative regulations and the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council are met;

(5) there is a sound quality management and breeding record system; and

(6) other conditions prescribed by laws and administrative regulations.

Article 25 — To apply for a production and operation license for the production of genetic materials such as ova, semen and embryos of livestock, the following conditions shall be met in addition to those prescribed in paragraph 2 of Article 24 of this Law:

(1) the laboratory, preservation and transportation conditions prescribed by the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council are met;

(2) the quantity and quality requirements for breeding livestock prescribed by the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council are met;

(3) the sources of embryos obtained by in vitro fertilization and the ova used are clear, and the donor animals meet the health standards and quality requirements for breeding livestock prescribed by the state; and

(4) the relevant mandatory national standards and technical requirements prescribed by the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council are met.

Article 26 — To apply for a production and operation license for the production of genetic materials such as ova, semen and embryos of livestock, an application shall be submitted to the agricultural and rural affairs department of the people’s government of a province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government. The agricultural and rural affairs department that accepts the application shall, within 60 working days from the date of receipt of the application, decide in accordance with the law whether to issue the production and operation license.

Production and operation licenses for other breeding livestock and poultry shall be examined, approved and issued by the agricultural and rural affairs departments of local people’s governments at or above the county level.

The state implements unified management and graded responsibility for production and operation licenses for breeding livestock and poultry, which shall be handled on a unified information platform. Information on the examination, approval and issuance of production and operation licenses for breeding livestock and poultry shall be disclosed to the public in accordance with the law. The specific measures and license forms shall be formulated by the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council.

Article 27 — A production and operation license for breeding livestock and poultry shall state the name of the producer and operator, the site (factory) address, the scope of production and operation, and the start and end dates of the validity period of the license.

It is prohibited to produce or operate breeding livestock and poultry or commercial-generation young livestock and chicks without a production and operation license for breeding livestock and poultry or in violation of the provisions of the license. It is prohibited to forge, alter, transfer or lease production and operation licenses for breeding livestock and poultry.

Article 28 — Where breeding livestock and poultry raised by farmers are used for self-breeding and self-raising with a small amount of surplus young livestock and chicks for sale, or where farmers raise breeding sires for mutual breeding assistance, no production and operation license for breeding livestock and poultry is required.

Article 29 — Where advertisements for breeding livestock and poultry are published, the advertiser shall hold or provide a production and operation license for breeding livestock and poultry and a business license. The content of the advertisements shall comply with the provisions of relevant laws and administrative regulations, and shall state the names of the examination or identification of the breeding livestock and poultry varieties and synthetic lines, and the description of the main traits shall conform to the standards of the varieties and synthetic lines.

Article 30 — Breeding livestock and poultry sold, and breeding sires used by livestock breeding stations (points), shall conform to the breeding standards. When breeding livestock and poultry are sold, a certificate of conformity for breeding livestock and poultry issued by the breeding livestock and poultry farm and a quarantine certificate issued by the animal health supervision institution shall be attached; breeding livestock sold shall also be accompanied by the pedigree of the livestock issued by the breeding livestock and poultry farm.

The production of genetic materials such as ova, semen and embryos of livestock shall have complete records of collection, sale, transplantation and the like, which shall be kept for two years.

Article 31 — In selling breeding livestock and poultry, the following acts are prohibited:

(1) passing off other varieties or synthetic lines of livestock and poultry as the varieties or synthetic lines being sold;

(2) passing off low-generation breeding livestock and poultry as high-generation breeding livestock and poultry;

(3) passing off livestock and poultry that do not meet the breeding standards as breeding livestock and poultry;

(4) selling breeding livestock and poultry imported without approval;

(5) selling breeding livestock and poultry without the certificate of conformity and quarantine certificate prescribed in Article 30 of this Law attached, or breeding livestock without the pedigree of livestock attached; and

(6) selling varieties or synthetic lines of breeding livestock and poultry that have not passed examination or identification.

Article 32 — To apply for the import of breeding livestock and poultry, a production and operation license for breeding livestock and poultry shall be held. Where a production and operation license for breeding livestock and poultry has not been obtained because there are no breeding livestock and poultry, an explanatory document from the agricultural and rural affairs department of the people’s government of a province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government shall be provided. The validity period of the approval document for the import of breeding livestock and poultry shall be six months.

Imported breeding livestock and poultry shall comply with the technical requirements prescribed by the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council. Breeding livestock and poultry imported for the first time shall also be subject to evaluation of breeding performance by the national livestock and poultry genetic resources committee.

In addition to the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs of this Article, the administration of the import and export of breeding livestock and poultry shall also be subject to the relevant provisions of Articles 16, 17 and 22 of this Law.

The state encourages livestock and poultry farmers to use imported breeding livestock and poultry to cultivate new varieties and synthetic lines; newly cultivated varieties and synthetic lines shall, before promotion, pass the examination of the national livestock and poultry genetic resources committee.

Article 33 — Where commercial-generation young livestock and chicks are sold, the seller shall provide the buyer with the main production performance indicators, immunization status, feeding technical requirements and relevant advisory services of the commercial-generation young livestock and chicks sold, and attach a quarantine certificate issued by the animal health supervision institution.

Where the sale of breeding livestock and poultry or commercial-generation young livestock and chicks causes losses to livestock and poultry farmers due to quality problems, compensation shall be made in accordance with the law.

Article 34 — The agricultural and rural affairs departments of people’s governments at or above the county level shall be responsible for the supervision and administration of the quality and safety of breeding livestock and poultry. The supervision and inspection of the quality and safety of breeding livestock and poultry shall be entrusted to legally qualified quality inspection institutions for breeding livestock and poultry; the inspection expenses required shall be covered by the budget at the same level and shall not be collected from the persons being inspected.

Article 35 — The provisions of this Law apply to the resource protection, breeding of new varieties, production, operation and promotion of bee species and silkworm species; the specific administrative measures shall be formulated by the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council.

Chapter IV — Livestock and Poultry Farming

Article 36 — The state establishes and improves a modern livestock and poultry farming system. The agricultural and rural affairs departments of people’s governments at or above the county level shall, based on animal husbandry development plans and market demand, guide and support the structural adjustment of animal husbandry, develop the production of advantageous livestock and poultry, and improve the market competitiveness of livestock and poultry products.

Article 37 — People’s governments at all levels shall guarantee the reasonable demand for land for livestock and poultry farming. County-level territorial spatial plans shall, based on local actual conditions, arrange land for livestock and poultry farming. Land for livestock and poultry farming shall be administered as agricultural land. Where the term of use of land for livestock and poultry farming expires or farming activities cease and the land needs to be restored to its original use, the user of the land for livestock and poultry farming shall be responsible for the restoration. Where permanent buildings (structures) need to be built within the scope of land for livestock and poultry farming, involving the conversion of agricultural land, the procedures shall be handled in accordance with the provisions of the Land Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China.

Article 38 — Technology promotion institutions for animal husbandry and veterinary medicine established by the state shall provide technical training in livestock and poultry farming and the harmless treatment and resource utilization of livestock and poultry manure, as well as services such as the promotion of improved varieties and epidemic prevention and control. People’s governments at or above the county level shall guarantee the working funds of technology promotion institutions for animal husbandry and veterinary medicine established by the state for carrying out public-welfare technical services.

The state encourages livestock and poultry product processing enterprises and other relevant producers and operators to provide needed services to livestock and poultry farmers.

Article 39 — Livestock and poultry farms shall meet the following conditions:

(1) having production sites and supporting production facilities commensurate with their raising scale;

(2) having animal husbandry and veterinary technical personnel serving them;

(3) meeting the epidemic prevention conditions prescribed by laws, administrative regulations and the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council;

(4) having facilities and equipment commensurate with the harmless treatment and resource utilization of livestock and poultry manure; and

(5) other conditions prescribed by laws and administrative regulations.

Those establishing livestock and poultry farms shall file the name of the farm, the farming address, the varieties of livestock and poultry and the farming scale with the agricultural and rural affairs department of the people’s government at the county level where the farm is located, and obtain a livestock and poultry identification code.

The scale standards and filing administration measures for livestock and poultry farms shall be formulated by the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council.

The epidemic prevention conditions and the requirements for the harmless treatment and resource utilization of livestock and poultry manure of livestock and poultry farmers shall be prescribed by the agricultural and rural affairs departments of the people’s governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government together with relevant departments.

Article 40 — The site selection and construction of livestock and poultry farms shall conform to territorial spatial plans and comply with the provisions of relevant laws and regulations; livestock and poultry farms shall not be built in areas where farming is prohibited in violation of the provisions of laws and regulations.

Article 41 — Livestock and poultry farms shall establish farming archives, recording the following:

(1) the varieties, quantity, breeding records, identification status, sources, and dates of entry and exit of livestock and poultry;

(2) the sources, names, recipients, time and dosages of inputs such as feed, feed additives and veterinary drugs;

(3) quarantine, immunization and disinfection conditions;

(4) the incidence, death and harmless treatment of livestock and poultry;

(5) the collection, storage, harmless treatment and resource utilization of livestock and poultry manure; and

(6) other content prescribed by the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council.

Article 42 — Livestock and poultry farmers shall provide appropriate breeding conditions and living and growing environments for the livestock and poultry they raise.

Article 43 — In engaging in livestock and poultry farming, the following acts are prohibited:

(1) using feed, feed additives or veterinary drugs in violation of laws, administrative regulations, the relevant mandatory national standards or the provisions of the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council;

(2) using swill from restaurants or canteens that has not been treated at high temperature to feed livestock;

(3) raising livestock and poultry at garbage dumps or using substances from garbage dumps;

(4) discarding and disposing of dead or diseased livestock and poultry at will; and

(5) other acts harmful to human and livestock and poultry health prescribed by laws, administrative regulations and the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council.

Article 44 — Those engaged in livestock and poultry farming shall, in accordance with the provisions of the Animal Epidemic Prevention Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products, do a good job of epidemic prevention and control of livestock and poultry and quality and safety work.

Article 45 — Livestock and poultry farmers shall, in accordance with the state provisions on the administration of livestock and poultry identification, affix identification to designated parts of livestock and poultry that are required to be identified. Agricultural and rural affairs departments shall not charge fees for providing identification, and the required expenses shall be included in the budgets of the people’s governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government.

It is prohibited to forge, alter or reuse livestock and poultry identification. It is prohibited to hold or use forged or altered livestock and poultry identification.

Article 46 — Livestock and poultry farms shall ensure the normal operation of facilities for the harmless treatment and resource utilization of livestock and poultry manure, ensure the comprehensive utilization or discharge-up-to-standard of livestock and poultry manure, and prevent environmental pollution. Where environmental pollution is caused by illegal discharge or improper management, the hazards shall be eliminated and compensation shall be made in accordance with the law.

The state supports the construction of facilities for the collection, storage, harmless treatment and resource utilization of livestock and poultry manure, promotes the balanced nutrient management of livestock and poultry manure, and promotes the utilization of agricultural organic fertilizer and the development of the combination of crop farming and animal raising.

Article 47 — The state guides livestock and poultry farmers in orderly development in accordance with animal husbandry development plans, strengthens guidance and assistance to livestock and poultry farmers, protects their lawful rights and interests, and shall not forcibly clear them out by administrative means at will.

The state encourages agriculture-related enterprises to lead livestock and poultry farmers in integrating into the modern animal husbandry industrial chain, strengthens socialized services for livestock and poultry farmers, supports livestock and poultry farmers and animal husbandry professional cooperatives in developing large-scale and standardized livestock and poultry farming, and supports the development of new industries and new business forms and the integration with industries such as tourism, culture and ecology.

Article 48 — The state supports the development of special livestock and poultry farming. People’s governments at or above the county level shall take measures to support the establishment of a farming system commensurate with the development of special livestock and poultry farming.

Article 49 — The state supports the development of apiculture and protects the lawful rights and interests of beekeepers.

Relevant departments shall actively publicize and promote agronomic measures of bee pollination.

Article 50 — Beekeepers shall not, in the production process, use drugs and containers that endanger the quality and safety of bee products, so as to ensure the quality of bee products. Beekeeping equipment shall conform to national standards and the technical requirements prescribed by the relevant departments under the State Council.

Article 51 — When beekeepers move to other places for beekeeping, the relevant local departments of public security, transportation, agriculture and rural affairs and others shall provide them with necessary conveniences.

Beekeepers who move to other places within China for beekeeping shall transport bee colonies on the strength of a quarantine certificate printed in a unified format by the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council, and shall not be subject to repeated quarantine within the validity period of the quarantine certificate.

Chapter V — Grassland Animal Husbandry

Article 52 — The state supports the scientific utilization of grasslands, coordinates the promotion of grassland protection and the development of grassland animal husbandry, adheres to the principle of giving priority to ecology and organically combining production and ecology, develops characteristic and advantageous industries, promotes the increase of farmers’ and herdsmen’s incomes, improves the sustainable development capacity of grasslands, consolidates the ecological security barrier, and promotes the coordinated development of production, life and ecology in pastoral areas.

Article 53 — The state supports pastoral areas in transforming the mode of development of grassland animal husbandry and strengthening the construction of infrastructure such as grassland water conservancy, grassland fencing, forage production, processing and storage, livestock pens and herding roads.

The state encourages the implementation of feeding methods such as barn and semi-barn pen raising, seasonal grazing and rotational grazing by zones, rationally allocates livestock herds, and maintains the balance between grass and livestock.

Article 54 — The state supports the selection, breeding, introduction, promotion and use of improved forage varieties, carries out artificial grassland construction, natural grassland improvement and forage base construction in light of local conditions, optimizes the planting structure, and improves the capacity to guarantee forage supply.

Article 55 — The state supports farmers and herdsmen in developing animal husbandry professional cooperatives and modern family ranches, promotes moderately scaled farming, improves the level of standardized production, and builds production bases for important livestock products such as cattle and sheep.

Article 56 — The agricultural and rural affairs departments of people’s governments at all levels in pastoral areas shall encourage and guide farmers and herdsmen in improving livestock varieties, optimizing herd structure, implementing scientific feeding, and reasonably accelerating the turnover of slaughter, so as to promote cost saving, quality improvement and efficiency increase in grassland animal husbandry.

Article 57 — The state strengthens disaster prevention and mitigation guarantees for grassland animal husbandry, includes disaster prevention and reduction of grassland animal husbandry in budgets, optimizes facilities and equipment conditions, improves the insurance system for livestock such as cattle and sheep in pastoral areas, and improves the capacity to resist natural disasters.

Article 58 — The state improves the subsidy and reward policies for grassland ecological protection, and grants subsidies and rewards in accordance with the relevant provisions of the state to farmers and herdsmen who adopt measures of grazing prohibition and grass-livestock balance.

Article 59 — Relevant local people’s governments shall support the coordinated development of grassland animal husbandry with industries such as rural tourism and culture, promote the integration of the primary, secondary and tertiary industries, improve the level of industrialization, branding and specialization, continuously increase the incomes of farmers and herdsmen, and promote the revitalization of pastoral areas.

Article 60 — Where the development of grassland animal husbandry involves activities of grassland protection, construction, utilization and management, the provisions of relevant laws and regulations on grassland protection shall be complied with.

Chapter VI — Trading and Transportation of Livestock and Poultry

Article 61 — The state accelerates the establishment of a unified, open, competitive, orderly, safe and convenient livestock and poultry trading market system.

Article 62 — Local people’s governments at or above the county level shall, based on development plans for wholesale markets of agricultural products, support the establishment of livestock and poultry wholesale markets at livestock and poultry distribution centers.

The site selection of livestock and poultry wholesale markets shall comply with the animal epidemic prevention conditions prescribed by laws, administrative regulations and the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council, and shall be more than three kilometers away from breeding livestock and poultry farms and large-scale livestock and poultry farms.

Article 63 — Livestock and poultry to be traded shall comply with the quality and safety standards for agricultural products and the technical requirements prescribed by the relevant departments under the State Council.

Livestock and poultry that are required by the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council to be identified but are not identified shall not be sold or purchased.

The state encourages livestock and poultry slaughtering operators to purchase livestock and poultry directly from livestock and poultry farmers, establish stable purchasing channels, and reduce the risks of animal epidemics and quality and safety.

Article 64 — The transportation of livestock and poultry shall comply with the animal epidemic prevention conditions prescribed by laws, administrative regulations and the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council, and measures shall be taken to protect the safety of livestock and poultry and provide the transported livestock and poultry with necessary space and feeding and drinking conditions.

Where relevant departments inspect livestock and poultry in transit, there shall be a basis in laws and administrative regulations.

Chapter VII — Slaughtering of Livestock and Poultry

Article 65 — The state implements a system of designated slaughter of live pigs. Designated slaughter may be implemented for livestock and poultry other than live pigs, and the specific measures shall be formulated by provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government, except for livestock slaughtered and consumed by individuals in rural areas themselves.

The people’s governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall, in accordance with the principles of scientific layout, centralized slaughter, facilitating circulation and convenience for the masses, and in light of the actual conditions of livestock and poultry farming, animal epidemic prevention and control and the consumption of livestock and poultry products, formulate and organize the implementation of development plans for the livestock and poultry slaughtering industry.

Article 66 — The state encourages on-site slaughter of livestock and poultry, guides livestock and poultry slaughtering enterprises to relocate to major farming areas, and supports the construction of cold-chain systems for the processing, storage and transportation of livestock and poultry products.

Article 67 — Livestock and poultry slaughtering enterprises shall meet the following conditions:

(1) having water supply conditions commensurate with the slaughtering scale and with water quality conforming to state-prescribed standards;

(2) having facilities, equipment and means of transport conforming to state provisions;

(3) having slaughtering technical personnel who have lawfully obtained health certificates;

(4) having veterinary health inspection personnel who have passed assessment; and

(5) having lawfully obtained a certificate of conformity for animal epidemic prevention conditions and other certification documents prescribed by laws and regulations.

Article 68 — Livestock and poultry slaughtering operators shall strengthen the quality and safety management of livestock and poultry slaughtering. Livestock and poultry slaughtering enterprises shall establish a quality and safety management system for livestock and poultry slaughtering.

Livestock and poultry products that have not been inspected or quarantined, or that fail inspection or quarantine, shall not leave the factory for sale. Livestock and poultry products that fail inspection or quarantine shall be handled in accordance with the relevant provisions of the state.

Local people’s governments at all levels shall, in accordance with the provisions, grant subsidies for the expenses and losses of harmless treatment.

Article 69 — The agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council shall be responsible for organizing the formulation of risk monitoring plans for the quality and safety of livestock and poultry slaughtering.

The agricultural and rural affairs departments of the people’s governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall, based on the national risk monitoring plan for the quality and safety of livestock and poultry slaughtering and in light of actual conditions, formulate and organize the implementation of risk monitoring plans for the quality and safety of livestock and poultry slaughtering within their respective administrative regions.

Chapter VIII — Safeguards and Supervision

Article 70 — People’s governments at or above the provincial level shall, within their budgets, arrange funds such as subsidies for improved varieties, interest subsidies and insurance premium subsidies to support innovation in the livestock and poultry breeding industry and the development of animal husbandry, and shall encourage relevant financial institutions to provide financial services, support livestock and poultry farmers in purchasing excellent livestock and poultry, breeding improved varieties and preventing and controlling epidemics, and support the improvement of production facilities and facilities and equipment for the harmless treatment and resource utilization of livestock and poultry manure, the expansion of farming scale, and the improvement of farming efficiency.

Article 71 — People’s governments at or above the county level shall organize agricultural and rural affairs departments and other relevant departments to, in accordance with this Law and the provisions of relevant laws and administrative regulations, strengthen supervision and administration of the raising environment of livestock and poultry, the quality of breeding livestock and poultry, the trading and transportation of livestock and poultry, the slaughtering of livestock and poultry, and the production, operation and use of inputs such as feed, feed additives and veterinary drugs.

Article 72 — The agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council shall formulate measures for the administration of livestock and poultry identification and farming archives, and adopt measures to implement the systems of quality and safety traceability and accountability for livestock and poultry products.

Article 73 — The agricultural and rural affairs departments of people’s governments at or above the county level shall formulate supervision and random inspection plans for the quality and safety of livestock and poultry, and carry out supervision and random inspection work in accordance with the plans.

Article 74 — The agricultural and rural affairs departments of people’s governments at or above the provincial level shall organize the formulation of production specifications for livestock and poultry and guide the safe production of livestock and poultry.

Article 75 — The state establishes a unified monitoring and early-warning system for the production of livestock and poultry and the market of livestock and poultry products, gradually improves the relevant reserve and adjustment mechanisms for livestock and poultry products, strengthens market regulation, and promotes the balance of market supply and demand and the healthy development of animal husbandry.

The relevant departments of people’s governments at or above the county level shall promptly publish information on the production and marketing of livestock and poultry and provide information services to livestock and poultry producers and operators.

Article 76 — The state strengthens the construction of the production, processing, sales and transportation systems for livestock and poultry, and improves the capacity to guarantee the supply safety of livestock and poultry products.

The people’s governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall be responsible for guaranteeing the supply of livestock and poultry products within their respective administrative regions, and establish a policy guarantee and responsibility assessment system for stabilizing production and ensuring supply.

The state encourages major sales areas of livestock and poultry to establish stable cooperative relationships with major production areas by means of cross-regional cooperation and the establishment of farming bases.

Chapter IX — Legal Liability

Article 77 — Where, in violation of the provisions of this Law, the agricultural and rural affairs departments of people’s governments at or above the county level or their staff members commit any of the following acts, the directly responsible persons in charge and other directly responsible persons shall be given sanctions in accordance with the law:

(1) taking advantage of their positions to accept property from others or seek other benefits;

(2) granting permission to applicants who do not meet the conditions, or granting permission beyond their statutory authority;

(3) failing to investigate and handle illegal acts discovered; and

(4) other acts of abusing power, neglecting duty, practicing favoritism or otherwise failing to perform their duties of supervision and administration in accordance with the law.

Article 78 — Where, in violation of paragraph 2 of Article 14 of this Law, protected livestock and poultry genetic resources are disposed of without authorization, causing losses to livestock and poultry genetic resources, the agricultural and rural affairs department of the people’s government at or above the provincial level shall impose a fine of not less than 100,000 yuan but not more than 1,000,000 yuan.

Article 79 — Where, in violation of the provisions of this Law, any of the following acts is committed, the agricultural and rural affairs department of the people’s government at or above the provincial level shall order cessation of the illegal act, confiscate the livestock and poultry genetic resources and illegal gains, and impose a fine of not less than 50,000 yuan but not more than 500,000 yuan:

(1) introducing livestock and poultry genetic resources from abroad without examination and approval;

(2) researching and utilizing livestock and poultry genetic resources included in the protected lists in China in cooperation with foreign institutions or individuals without examination and approval; and

(3) researching and utilizing newly discovered livestock and poultry genetic resources that have not been identified by the national livestock and poultry genetic resources committee, in China in cooperation with foreign institutions or individuals.

Article 80 — Where, in violation of the provisions of this Law, livestock and poultry genetic resources are exported abroad without the approval of the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council, legal liability shall be pursued in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Customs Law of the People’s Republic of China. Customs shall transfer the detained livestock and poultry genetic resources to the agricultural and rural affairs department of the people’s government of a province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government for handling.

Article 81 — Where, in violation of the provisions of this Law, livestock and poultry varieties or synthetic lines that have not passed examination or identification are sold or promoted, the agricultural and rural affairs department of the local people’s government at or above the county level shall order cessation of the illegal act and confiscate the livestock and poultry and illegal gains; where the illegal gains are 50,000 yuan or more, a fine of not less than one time but not more than three times the illegal gains shall be imposed in addition; where there are no illegal gains or the illegal gains are less than 50,000 yuan, a fine of not less than 5,000 yuan but not more than 50,000 yuan shall be imposed in addition.

Article 82 — Where, in violation of the provisions of this Law, breeding livestock and poultry are produced or operated without a production and operation license for breeding livestock and poultry or in violation of the provisions of the license, or production and operation licenses for breeding livestock and poultry are forged, altered, transferred or leased, the agricultural and rural affairs department of the local people’s government at or above the county level shall order cessation of the illegal act, confiscate the forged or altered production and operation licenses for breeding livestock and poultry, and confiscate the breeding livestock and poultry, commercial-generation young livestock and chicks, and illegal gains; where the illegal gains are 30,000 yuan or more, a fine of not less than one time but not more than three times the illegal gains shall be imposed in addition; where there are no illegal gains or the illegal gains are less than 30,000 yuan, a fine of not less than 3,000 yuan but not more than 30,000 yuan shall be imposed in addition. Where breeding livestock and poultry are produced or operated in violation of the provisions of the production and operation license for breeding livestock and poultry, or a production and operation license for breeding livestock and poultry is transferred or leased, and the circumstances are serious, the production and operation license for breeding livestock and poultry shall also be revoked.

Article 83 — Where Article 29 of this Law is violated, legal liability shall be pursued in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Advertising Law of the People’s Republic of China.

Article 84 — Where, in violation of the provisions of this Law, breeding livestock and poultry used do not conform to the breeding standards, the agricultural and rural affairs department of the local people’s government at or above the county level shall order cessation of the illegal act and confiscate the breeding livestock and poultry and illegal gains; where the illegal gains are 5,000 yuan or more, a fine of not less than one time but not more than two times the illegal gains shall be imposed in addition; where there are no illegal gains or the illegal gains are less than 5,000 yuan, a fine of not less than 1,000 yuan but not more than 5,000 yuan shall be imposed in addition.

Article 85 — Where the sale of breeding livestock and poultry involves any of the illegal acts in items (1) through (4) of Article 31 of this Law, the agricultural and rural affairs department of the local people’s government at or above the county level and the market regulatory department shall, according to their respective functions and duties, order cessation of the sale and confiscate the illegally sold breeding livestock and poultry and illegal gains; where the illegal gains are 50,000 yuan or more, a fine of not less than one time but not more than five times the illegal gains shall be imposed in addition; where there are no illegal gains or the illegal gains are less than 50,000 yuan, a fine of not less than 5,000 yuan but not more than 50,000 yuan shall be imposed in addition; where the circumstances are serious, the production and operation license for breeding livestock and poultry or the business license shall also be revoked.

Article 86 — Where, in violation of the provisions of this Law, a livestock and poultry farm is established without filing, or a livestock and poultry farm fails to establish farming archives or fails to keep farming archives in accordance with the provisions, the agricultural and rural affairs department of the local people’s government at or above the county level shall order correction within a prescribed time limit and may impose a fine of not more than 10,000 yuan.

Article 87 — Where livestock and poultry are raised in violation of Article 43 of this Law, handling and punishment shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws and administrative regulations.

Article 88 — Where, in violation of the provisions of this Law, breeding livestock and poultry sold are not accompanied by a certificate of conformity for breeding livestock and poultry or a pedigree of livestock; livestock and poultry that are required by the agricultural and rural affairs department under the State Council to be identified but are not identified are sold or purchased; or livestock and poultry identification is reused, the agricultural and rural affairs department of the local people’s government at or above the county level and the market regulatory department shall, according to their respective functions and duties, order correction and may impose a fine of not more than 2,000 yuan.

Where breeding livestock and poultry sold are not accompanied by a quarantine certificate; livestock and poultry identification is forged or altered; or forged or altered livestock and poultry identification is held or used, legal liability shall be pursued in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Animal Epidemic Prevention Law of the People’s Republic of China.

Article 89 — Where, in violation of the provisions of this Law, livestock and poultry slaughtering activities are carried out without designation, handling and punishment shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws and regulations.

Article 90 — Where the agricultural and rural affairs department of a local people’s government at or above the county level finds that a livestock and poultry slaughtering enterprise no longer meets the conditions prescribed by this Law, it shall order suspension of business for rectification and require rectification within a prescribed time limit; where the conditions prescribed by this Law are still not met upon expiration of the time limit, it shall order closure, and for those subject to designated slaughter management, the licensing authority shall revoke the designated slaughter certificate in accordance with the law.

Article 91 — Where, in violation of Article 68 of this Law, a livestock and poultry slaughtering enterprise fails to establish a quality and safety management system for livestock and poultry slaughtering, or a livestock and poultry slaughtering operator fails to handle livestock and poultry products that fail inspection in accordance with the relevant provisions of the state, the agricultural and rural affairs department of the local people’s government at or above the county level shall order correction and give a warning; where correction is refused, it shall order suspension of business for rectification and impose a fine of not less than 5,000 yuan but not more than 50,000 yuan, and impose a fine of not less than 2,000 yuan but not more than 20,000 yuan on the directly responsible persons in charge and other directly responsible persons; where the circumstances are serious, it shall order closure, and for those subject to designated slaughter management, the licensing authority shall revoke the designated slaughter certificate in accordance with the law.

Where other acts in violation of Article 68 of this Law are committed, handling and punishment shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws and regulations.

Article 92 — Where a violation of the provisions of this Law constitutes a crime, criminal liability shall be pursued in accordance with the law.

Chapter X — Supplementary Provisions

Article 93 — “Livestock and poultry genetic resources” as used in this Law refers to livestock and poultry and genetic materials such as their ova (eggs), semen, embryos and genetic substances.

“Breeding livestock and poultry” as used in this Law refers to livestock and poultry that have been selected and bred, have breeding value and are suitable for reproducing offspring, and their ova (eggs), semen, embryos and the like.

Article 94 — This Law shall come into force on March 1, 2023.