China’s government has proposed to block the sale of certain biotech platforms to foreign entities. The October announcement, jointly issued by the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Science and Technology, adds 40 key technologies to the export blacklist in the “China Export Prohibition and Export Restriction Technology Catalog.” The draft policy focuses on three key areas where foreign acquisitions of Chinese assets will be blocked: biomedicine, artificial intelligence and photovoltaics green energy — including five technologies related to pathogen gain-of-function platforms, cell and gene therapy and small interfering RNA.
The changes aim not only to prevent the risk of uncontrolled technology and improper proliferation, but to ensure normal international technical exchanges and cooperation and to promote the improvement of science and technology, according to a Ministry of Commerce spokesperson.
