On May 1, 2025, China’s State Council released the Regulations on the Protection of New Plant Varieties.

The new regulations include stipulations on implementing the Essentially Derived Variety (EDV) system, specifying that authorities will release the EDV implementation scope and assessment guidelines and clarify the conditions required for testing bodies. The protection period for woody and vine plants has been extended from 20 to 25 years, and for other plants from 15 to 20 years. Further, preliminary examination should be reduced from 6 months to 3 months. The Regulations come into force on June 1, 2025.