(Yicai Global) Dec. 12 -- Beijing will further relax regulatory measures on imported biomaterials, including specific-pathogen-free (SPF) rats and mice, plants and animals for genetic testing and microorganism deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), among others. The move is aimed at meeting the actual needs of the development of regional biological industry, the city officials said.

SPF mice are important experimental materials for the research of life science and the development of medical technology. Its import demand is huge, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported yesterday. The traditional quarantine of SPF rats and mice takes 30 days, which leads to loss of the most suitable time for scientific research, said an official at the Beijing Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, adding that the new regulation will reduce this period to 14 days, helping solve the problem.

As for DNA/RNA, the new regulation will reduce the time for inspection and quarantine from two weeks to four days, preventing the risk of nucleic acid degradation and greatly reducing the cost of genetic testing enterprises.

The regulatory relaxation is part of a new round of reform for inbound biomaterials, the inspection and quarantine bureau said. The reform will help Chinese biotech industry transform from simple imitation to independent research and development and from making unidirectional technological breakthroughs to overall development, which plays an important role in attracting overseas capital, technology and talents.