Editor’s Note: Our guide to China’s Civil Code is available here.
Civil Code of the People’s Republic of China
中华人民共和国民法典
[Current Text: Chinese, English]
(adopted May 28, 2020, effective Jan. 1, 2021)
- Status: Passed
- Legislative Body (Vote): NPC (2879–5–2)
- Principal Drafter: NPCSC Legislative Affairs Commission
- Submitters: Council of Chairpersons (to NPCSC) & NPCSC (to NPC)
- Legislative Plans
- Five-year: 12th NPCSC Category I, 13th NPCSC Category I
- Special: Public Health Category I
- Annual: 2018, 2019 (presumed), 2020
- Legislative History & Texts
- NPC deliberation – final round (entire Code): May 2020 (Current Text ⇧)
- NPCSC deliberation – 1st round (entire Code): December 2019 (Chinese only)
- NPCSC deliberation – 3rd round (Part on Marriage and Family): October 2019 (Chinese only)
- NPCSC deliberation – 3rd round (Part on Personality Rights): August 2019 (Chinese only)
- NPCSC deliberation – 3rd round (Part on Tort Liability): August 2019 (Chinese only)
- NPCSC deliberation – 2nd round (Part on Inheritance): June 2019 (Chinese only)
- NPCSC deliberation – 2nd round (Part on Marriage and Family): June 2019 (Chinese only)
- NPCSC deliberation – 2nd round (Part on Personality Rights): April 2019 (Chinese, $ English)
- NPCSC deliberation – 2nd round (Part on Rights in Rem): April 2019 (Chinese only)
- NPCSC deliberation – 2nd round (Part on Contracts): December 2018 (Chinese only)
- NPCSC deliberation – 2nd round (Part on Tort Liability): December 2018 (Chinese only)
- NPCSC deliberation – 1st round (all Separate Parts): August 2018 (Chinese only)
- Legislative Records
- NPCSC Stage
- Explanation (all Separate Parts) (Aug. 27, 2018)
- Report on Status of Revision (Part on Contracts) (Dec. 23, 2018)
- Report on Status of Revision (Part on Tort Liability) (Dec. 23, 2018)
- Report on Status of Revision (Part on Rights in Rem) (Apr. 20, 2019)
- Report on Status of Revision (Part on Personality Rights) (Apr. 20, 2019)
- Report on Status of Revision (Part on Marriage and Family) (June 25, 2019)
- Report on Status of Revision (Part on Inheritance) (June 25, 2019)
- Report on Status of Revision (Part on Personality Rights) (Aug. 22, 2019)
- Report on Status of Revision (Part on Tort Liability) (Aug. 22, 2019)
- Report on Status of Revision (Part on Marriage and Family) (Oct. 21, 2019)
- Report on Status of Revision & Compilation (Dec. 23, 2019)
- NPC Stage
- Explanation (May 22, 2020)
- Report on Results of Deliberation (May 26, 2020)
- Report on Suggestions for Revision (May 27, 2020)
- Presidential Order (May 28, 2020)
- NPCSC Stage
- Laws Abolished
- Marriage Law [婚姻法]
NPC Observer Coverage
- 2020 NPC Session: A Guide to China’s Civil Code (May 21, 2020)
- Translation: NPCSC’s New Public Health Legislative Plan in Response to COVID-19 (Apr. 29, 2020)
- NPCSC Solicits Public Comments on Draft Civil Code, Export Control Law, Yangtze River Protection Law, Solid Waste Law Revisions & Two Tax Laws (Dec. 28, 2019)
- NPCSC Solicits Public Comments on Civil Code Marriage Part, Draft Community Corrections Law, Draft Revisions to Child Protection Laws & Two Other Bills (Oct. 31, 2019)
- NPCSC Session Watch: Encryption, Civil Code, Biosecurity, Child Protection & State Supervision Commission Rulemaking (Oct. 15, 2019)
- NPCSC Seeks Public Comments on Draft Healthcare Law & Civil Code Parts on Personality Rights & Tort Liability (Aug. 22, 2019)
- NPCSC Session Watch: Public Health Laws, Civil Code & Supervision Law Companion Statute (Aug. 15, 2019)
- NPCSC Solicits Public Comments on Draft Community Corrections Law, Encryption Law, Two Civil Code Parts & Three Other Bills (July 2, 2019)
- NPCSC Session Watch: Marriage, Vaccine, Community Corrections, Encryption & Solid Waste (June 17, 2019)
- NPCSC Solicits Public Comments on Draft Securities Law Revision, Civil Code Parts on Property and Personality Rights & Drug and Vaccine Laws (Apr. 26, 2019)
- NPCSC Seeks Public Comments on Draft Patent Law Amendment, Two Civil Code Parts, Vaccine Administration Law & Four Other Bills (Jan. 4, 2019)
- NPCSC Session Watch: Foreign Investment, Patent, Resource Tax, Local Government Debt & More (Dec. 16, 2018)
- NPCSC Solicits Public Comments on Draft Civil Code, Amendment to Criminal Procedure Law & Three Other Bills (Sept. 3, 2018)
- NPCSC Session Watch: Separate Parts of Civil Code, Tax Bills, Criminal Procedure, and More (Aug. 17, 2018)
- NPC Standing Committee Releases 2018 Legislative Plan (Apr. 27, 2018)
- 2017 NPC Session: Schoolchildren, Heroes, Good Samaritans & Draft Civil Law (Mar. 13, 2017)
- NPCSC Solicits Public Comments on Draft Securities Law Revision, Civil Code Parts on Property and Personality Rights & Drug and Vaccine Laws (Apr. 26, 2019)
- NPCSC Seeks Public Comments on Draft Patent Law Amendment, Two Civil Code Parts, Vaccine Administration Law & Four Other Bills (Jan. 4, 2019)
- NPCSC Session Watch: Foreign Investment, Patent, Resource Tax, Local Government Debt & More (Dec. 16, 2018)
- NPCSC Solicits Public Comments on Draft Civil Code, Amendment to Criminal Procedure Law & Three Other Bills (Sept. 3, 2018)
- NPCSC Session Watch: Separate Parts of Civil Code, Tax Bills, Criminal Procedure, and More (Aug. 17, 2018)
- NPC Standing Committee Releases 2018 Legislative Plan (Apr. 27, 2018)
- 2017 NPC Session: Schoolchildren, Heroes, Good Samaritans & Draft Civil Law (Mar. 13, 2017)