The National Health Commission, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, and eight other bureaus have jointly issued the “Measures for the Review of Science and Technology Ethics (Trial)”, which came into effect on December 1, 2023. These measures are designed to ensure that scientific and technological activities are conducted in accordance with ethical standards, particularly those involving humans, experimental animals, and activities that may pose ethical risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ethical Review Requirements<\/strong> Conducting Ethical Risk Assessments<\/strong>
The document mandates that scientific and technological activities that could challenge life, health, the ecological environment, public order, and sustainable development must undergo a rigorous ethics review. For research involving sensitive areas of scientific and technological ethics, relevant units are required to establish a scientific and technological ethics (review) committee. This committee should consist of no fewer than seven members, including a chairman and several vice chairmen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scientific and technological activities should be accompanied by a risk assessment of scientific and technological ethics. The review process should, in principle, be conducted through meetings. The technology ethics review meeting should be chaired by the chairman or a designated vice chairman, with at least five members present, representing different categories. The review content includes assessing the reasonableness of risks and benefits, the scientific appropriateness and operability of ethical risk control plans and emergency plans, and whether the qualifications of relevant personnel and facility conditions meet the required standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n