The Ministry of Commerce (MOC) announced the revision to the Administration of Technology Prohibited or Restricted from Import Procedures (ATPRIP) on Tuesday.

According to the new regulation, investigate privileges for import applications will be transferred from MOC to the provincial and municipal commercial administration departments.

All technological imports that are restricted from import as listed in the Technology Prohibited and Restricted from Import by China Catalogue, should undergo the import licensing procedure.

The investigation will include whether the import is in accord with China's foreign trade policies, and whether it is beneficial to China's economic and technological cooperation with other countries.

Whether the import is in accord with China's commitment to the other countries and whether it hurts the development of relative domestic industries will also be examined.

The new measure is due to take effect 30 days after it is made public.

MOC began to seek public opinion on the revised regulation in June 2008. The old regulation, which became effective in 2001, will be nullified.

(Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2009)