China's legislative body has given final approval to a comprehensively revised Agriculture Law, marking the second major overhaul of the legislation since its initial enactment in 1993. The updated law, which will come into effect on January 1, 2027, introduces a significant structural change by officially merging "forestry" and "grassland" into a single industrial category known as "forest-grass industry".
The most notable adjustment in this revision is the formal adoption of the term "forest-grass industry" to replace the previous "forestry" designation, with corresponding legal provisions woven throughout multiple chapters. The law's general provisions now explicitly define agriculture as encompassing crop cultivation, the forest-grass industry, animal husbandry, and fishery, along with directly related pre-production, mid-production, and post-production services, thereby establishing a distinct legal status for this unified sector within the foundational agricultural framework.
Under the new provisions, the state pledges to adhere to a comprehensive approach to agriculture and food supply, ensuring grain security while diversifying the food supply system. Administrative responsibilities are clearly delineated, with national forestry and grassland authorities along with other relevant departments tasked with overseeing agricultural and rural economic development, while local counterparts at the county level and above manage forestry and grassland affairs within their jurisdictions.
The law reinforces the role of state-owned farms, forest farms, pasture farms, and fishery farms in modern agricultural development, explicitly protecting the legal land rights of state-owned forest farms against unauthorized requisition. Significant attention is directed toward production activities, requiring coordinated development across all agricultural sectors, with a strong emphasis on ecological conservation including the protection and restoration of natural forests and grasslands, desertification control, and the development of shelterbelt systems.
A key economic provision mandates that government budgets allocate agricultural infrastructure investments equally across crop cultivation, forest-grass industry, animal husbandry, fishery, and farmland water conservancy projects, ensuring the forest-grass sector receives financial support commensurate with other agricultural industries. The legislation also prioritizes the development of commercial forests and understory economies, provided ecological security is maintained, while promoting grassland conservation alongside the development of animal husbandry through improved feeding practices and forage industries.
Comprehensive regulations address the protection of land, water, forest, grassland, and wildlife resources, endorsing an integrated approach to managing mountains, waters, forests, farmlands, grasslands, and deserts. Local governments are tasked with organizing afforestation efforts, protecting forest land and trees, preventing forest fires, controlling forest pests, and curbing illegal logging. The law maintains the system of compulsory tree planting for all citizens and continues the policy of comprehensive protection for natural forests with strict restrictions on logging.
Detailed provisions on grassland management require local governments to strengthen protection, construction, and supervision, promote grassland-based livestock development, and implement measures to balance forage supply with animal numbers. The law prohibits harmful practices such as reclaiming forest or grassland for cultivation, clearing land by burning, and reclaiming steep slopes, while ensuring farmers who convert farmland back to natural vegetation within approved plans receive appropriate government compensation.
The revised law also addresses broader environmental concerns, including the protection of biodiversity and germplasm resources, with strict controls on the introduction of foreign biological species and enhanced measures against invasive species. The legislation supports biodiversity protection programs and the establishment of national germplasm resource banks, while also promoting ecological conservation compensation mechanisms to realize the value of agricultural ecosystem services.
Support is extended to the breeding, production, and promotion of improved animal and plant varieties, with special government funds established at both national and provincial levels. Provisions concerning the monitoring, early warning, and control of animal diseases and plant pests are equally applicable to the forest-grass sector. The legal framework stipulates that violations of reclamation restrictions will be penalized under relevant laws and regulations, while employees of state-owned forest farms operating under contract arrangements are entitled to protections similar to those afforded to farmers.