Law of the People's Republic of China on the Popularization of Agricultural Technology (2012 Amendment)

Law of the People's Republic of China on the Popularization of Agricultural Technology (2012 Amendment) Law of the People's Republic of China on the Popularization of Agricultural Technology (Adopted at the 2nd Session of the Eighth National People's Congress on July 2, 1993; amended in accordance with the Decision on Amending the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Popularization of Agricultural Technology adopted at the 28th session of the Standing Committee of the Eleventh National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China on August 31, 2012) Table of Contents Chapter I General Provisions Chapter II System of Agricultural Technology Popularization Chapter III Popularization and Application of Agricultural Technology Chapter IV Safeguards for Agricultural Technology Popularization Chapter V Legal Liability Chapter VI Supplementary Provisions Chapter I General Provisions Article 1 This Law is formulated in order to strengthening the work of agricultural technology popularization, enabling the prompt application of results of agricultural scientific research and practical techniques to agricultural production, reinforcing the supporting and safeguarding roles of science and technology, promoting the sustainable development of agriculture and rural economy and realizing the modernization of agriculture. Article 2 For the purposes of this law, “agricultural technology” means scientific research results and practical techniques applied to planting, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery, including: (1)techniques for cultivation of good strains of plants, planting, application of fertilizers, and animal breeding; (2)techniques for preventing and controlling plant diseases and peats, epidemic diseases of animals and other harmful organisms; (3)techniques for harvesting, processing, packaging, storing and transporting agricultural products; (4)techniques for ensuring the safe use of agricultural inputs and the quality and safety of agricultural products; (5)techniques for farmland irrigation, water supply and drainage in rural areas, soil improvement, and water and soil conservation; (6)techniques for agricultural mechanization, agricultural aviation, agricultural meteorology and agricultural information; (7)techniques for the prevention and mitigation of agricultural disasters, the safety of agricultural resources and agricultural ecology, and the rural energy development and utilization; and (8)other agricultural techniques. For the purpose of this law “popularization of agricultural technology” means popularization and application of agricultural technology to the entire process of agricultural production, including the processes before, during and after production of experiment, demonstration, training, guidance and consultation services. Article 3 The state shall support the popularization of agricultural technology, accelerate the popularization and application of agricultural technology, and develop high-yield, quality, efficient, eco-friendly and safe agriculture. Article 4 The following principles shall be observed in the popularization of agricultural technology: (1)conducive to the sustainable development of agriculture and rural economy and the increase of farmers' income; (2)respecting the will of agricultural laborers and organizations engaging in agricultural production and other operations. (3) adopting measures suitable to local conditions after experimentation and demonstration; (4) categorized management of non-profit popularization and for-profit popularization; (5) considering both economic and social benefits and paying attention to ecological benefits. Article 5 The state shall encourage and support scientific and technical personnel to develop, popularize and apply advanced agricultural technology, encourage and support agricultural laborers and organizations to apply advanced agricultural technology. The state shall encourage the application of modern information technologies and other advanced means of dissemination to popularize knowledge of agricultural science and technology, innovate in the modes and methods for popularizing agricultural technology and improve popularization efficiency. Article 6 The state shall encourage and support the introduction of advanced agricultural technology from foreign countries and promote the international cooperation and exchanges of the popularization of agricultural technology. Article 7 People's governments at various levels shall strengthen their leadership in the work of the popularization of agricultural technology and organize the relevant departments and entities to take measures for improving the service level in the popularization of agricultural technology and promoting the development of the popularization of agricultural technology. Article 8 The entities and individuals that have made contributions to the work of agricultural technology popularization shall be awarded. Article 9 The agriculture, forestry, water and other departments of the State Council (hereinafter together referred to as “agricultural technology popularization departments”) shall be responsible for the relevant work on agricultural technology popularization in the whole country according to their respective functions. The agricultural technology popularization departments of a local people's government at or above the county level shall, under the leadership of the people's government at the corresponding level, be responsible for the relevant work on agricultural technology popularization within their administrative region according to their respective functions. The department of science and technology of the people's government at the same level shall provide guidance for work on agricultural technology popularization. Other relevant departments of the people's government at the same level shall be responsible for the relevant work on agricultural technology popularization according to their respective functions. Chapter II System of Agricultural Technology Popularization Article 10 In agricultural technology popularization, a popularization system, which combines state agricultural technology popularization institutions with agricultural scientific research institutes, relevant schools, farmers' specialized cooperatives, agriculture-related enterprises, mass organizations for science and technology, and farmer technicians, shall be adopted. The state shall encourage and support supply and marketing cooperatives, other enterprises and institutions, social organizations, and scientific and technical personnel in all walks of life to provide agricultural technology popularization services. Article 11 State agricultural technology popularization institutions at all levels, as public service institutions, shall perform the following public functions: (1)Introducing and conducting experiment and demonstration for key agricultural techniques determined by the people's governments at all levels; (2)Monitoring, forecasting and preventing plant diseases and pests, epidemic diseases of animals ......