Last updated: April 28, 2024
This page is an annotated translation of the official list of Chinese “laws” [法律] maintained by the NPC Standing Committee (NPCSC), which currently includes the Constitution and 301 laws. The list does not use the term “law” in its technical sense, for it includes a few instruments that did not qualify as “laws” under the relevant PRC Constitution, but which are nonetheless categorized as such.
The laws are grouped into seven broad areas, the descriptions of which are based on this 2018 lecture by the Chairperson of the NPC Constitution and Law Committee on the NPCSC’s legislative work. New laws categorized by us (before the official list is updated) are each marked with an asterisk (*). The numbering of the full NPC’s enactments is shaded in gold; all other laws were adopted by the NPCSC.
You can access the current Chinese version of each law by clicking on its Chinese title. If a law’s English title is hyperlinked, the link will direct you to an English translation that complies with our editorial policy, or to the page we have created for a related bill (“bill page”)—as explained in the accompanying brackets. For brevity, we have omitted “People’s Republic of China” from the laws’ translated titles. We have also added the dates when each law was adopted and most recently updated (whether amended or revised). For the avoidance of doubt, the dates are in the format of “year/month/day.”
- PRC Constitution [宪法]
- Constitution-Related Laws [宪法相关法]
- Civil & Commercial Laws [民法商法]
- Administrative Laws [行政法]
- Economic Laws [经济法]
- Social Laws [社会法]
- Criminal Laws [刑法]
- Litigation & Non-Litigation Procedure Laws [诉讼与非诉讼程序法]
PRC Constitution [宪法]
China’s current Constitution was adopted on December 4, 1982 and has been amended five times, in 1988, 1993, 1999, 2004, and 2018.
| Title | Adopted |
|---|---|
| 中华人民共和国宪法（1982年） Constitution of the People’s Republic of China (1982) [bill page] | 1982/12/4 |
| 中华人民共和国宪法修正案（1988年） Constitutional Amendment (1988) [NPC trans. via HKSAR Gov’t] | 1988/4/12 |
| 中华人民共和国宪法修正案（1993年） Constitutional Amendment (1993) [NPC trans. via HKSAR Gov’t] | 1993/3/29 |
| 中华人民共和国宪法修正案（1999年） Constitutional Amendment (1999) [NPC trans. via HKSAR Gov’t] | 1999/3/15 |
| 中华人民共和国宪法修正案（2004年） Constitutional Amendment (2004) [NPC trans. via HKSAR Gov’t] | 2004/3/14 |
| 中华人民共和国宪法修正案（2018年） Constitutional Amendment (2018) [bill page] | 2018/3/11 |
Constitution-Related Laws [宪法相关法] (52)
Constitution-related laws implement constitutional provisions on state institutions and citizens’ fundamental rights. Specifically, they govern (1) the creation, organization, functions, and operations of state institutions; (2) the systems of ethnic regional autonomy and grassroots-level self-governance; (3) special administrative regions; (4) state sovereignty and territory, national security, and national symbols; and (4) citizens’ fundamental political rights.
Civil & Commercial Laws [民法商法] (24)
Civil and commercial laws govern the legal relationships between natural persons, legal persons, and unincorporated organizations as entities equal in status. Specifically, they include basic civil laws (codified as the Civil Code), intellectual property laws, and commercial laws (such as companies, securities, and bankcrupty laws).
Administrative Laws [行政法] (97)
Administrative laws govern the legal relationships between administrative agencies and private entities that arise from regulatory activities. Specifically, they include substantive administrative laws (such as environmental laws), procedural administrative laws, and laws providing for relief from administrative actions.
Economic Laws [经济法] (85)
Economic laws govern the State’s macro-management or regulation of the economy. Specifically, they govern (1) macroeconomic regulation and control (including tax laws); (2) competition; (3) foreign trade and commerce; (4) regulation of key industries (such as the railway or the agriculture industry); (5) protection and use of natural resources; and (6) standardization of economic activities.
| # | Title | Adopted | Last Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 全国人民代表大会常务委员会关于批准《广东省经济特区条例》的决议 NPCSC Resolution on Approving the Guangdong Province Regulations on Special Economic Zones [NPC trans.] | 1980/8/26 | — |
| 2 | 中华人民共和国个人所得税法 Individual Income Tax Law [bill page] | 1980/9/10 | 2018/8/31 |
| 3 | 中华人民共和国统计法 Statistics Law [bill page] | 1983/12/8 | 2009/6/27 |
| 4 | 中华人民共和国森林法 Forest Law [bill page] | 1984/9/20 | 2019/12/28 |
| 5 | 中华人民共和国会计法 Accounting Law [bill page] | 1985/1/21 | 2017/11/4 |
| 6 | 中华人民共和国草原法 Grassland Law | 1985/6/18 | 2021/4/29 |
| 7 | 中华人民共和国计量法 Metrology Law [bill page] | 1985/9/6 | 2018/10/26 |
| 8 | 中华人民共和国渔业法 Fisheries Law [bill page] | 1986/1/20 | 2013/12/28 |
| 9 | 中华人民共和国矿产资源法 Mineral Resources Law [bill page] | 1986/3/19 | 2009/8/27 |
| 10 | 中华人民共和国邮政法 Postal Law | 1986/12/2 | 2015/4/24 |
| 11 | 中华人民共和国水法 Water Law [NPC trans. (v. 2002)] | 1988/1/21 | 2016/7/2 |
| 12 | 中华人民共和国标准化法 Standardization Law [Seconded European Standardization Expert in China trans.] | 1988/12/29 | 2017/11/4 |
| 13 | 中华人民共和国进出口商品检验法 Import and Export Commodity Inspection Law | 1989/2/21 | 2021/4/29 |
| 14 | 中华人民共和国铁路法 Railway Law [bill page] | 1990/9/7 | 2015/4/24 |
| 15 | 中华人民共和国烟草专卖法 Tobacco Monopoly Law | 1991/6/29 | 2015/4/24 |
| 16 | 中华人民共和国水土保持法 Soil and Water Conservation Law [MEE trans.] | 1991/6/29 | 2010/12/25 |
| 17 | 中华人民共和国进出境动植物检疫法 Exit-Entry Animals and Plants Quarantine Law [bill page] | 1991/10/30 | 2009/8/27 |
| 18 | 中华人民共和国税收征收管理法 Tax Collection Administration Law [bill page] | 1992/9/4 | 2015/4/24 |
| 19 | 中华人民共和国产品质量法 Products Quality Law [bill page] | 1993/2/22 | 2018/12/29 |
| 20 | 中华人民共和国农业技术推广法 Law on the Popularization of Agricultural Technology | 1993/7/2 | 2024/4/26 |
| 21 | 中华人民共和国农业法 Agriculture Law | 1993/7/2 | 2012/12/28 |
| 22 | 中华人民共和国反不正当竞争法 Anti–Unfair Competition Law [bill page] | 1993/9/2 | 2019/4/23 |
| 23 | 中华人民共和国注册会计师法 Certified Public Accountants Law [bill page] | 1993/10/31 | 2014/8/31 |
| 24 | 全国人民代表大会常务委员会关于外商投资企业和外国企业适用增值税、消费税、营业税等税收暂行条例的决定 NPCSC Decision on Applying the Interim Regulations on Value-Added Tax, Consumption Tax, Business Tax, and Other Taxes to Foreign-Invested Enterprises and Foreign Enterprises [NPC trans.] | 1993/12/29 | — |
| 25 | 中华人民共和国台湾同胞投资保护法 Law on the Protection of Investments by Taiwan Compatriots [NPC trans. via MOJ] | 1994/3/5 | 2019/12/28 |
| 26 | 中华人民共和国预算法 Budget Law | 1994/3/22 | 2018/12/29 |
| 27 | 中华人民共和国对外贸易法 Foreign Trade Law [NPC trans.] | 1994/5/12 | 2022/12/30 |
| 28 | 中华人民共和国审计法 Audit Law [bill page] | 1994/8/31 | 2021/10/23 |
| 29 | 中华人民共和国广告法 Advertising Law [$ China Law Translate trans.] | 1994/10/27 | 2021/4/29 |
| 30 | 中华人民共和国中国人民银行法 Law on the People’s Bank of China [bill page] | 1995/3/18 | 2003/12/27 |
| 31 | 中华人民共和国民用航空法 Civil Aviation Law [bill page] | 1995/10/30 | 2021/4/29 |
| 32 | 中华人民共和国电力法 Electricity Law | 1995/12/28 | 2018/12/29 |
| 33 | 中华人民共和国煤炭法 Coal Law [bill page] | 1996/8/29 | 2016/11/7 |
| 34 | 中华人民共和国乡镇企业法 Township and Village Enterprises Law [NPC trans.] | 1996/10/29 | — |
| 35 | 中华人民共和国公路法 Highway Law | 1997/7/3 | 2017/11/4 |
| 36 | 中华人民共和国动物防疫法 Animal Epidemic Prevention Law [bill page] | 1997/7/3 | 2021/1/22 |
| 37 | 中华人民共和国防洪法 Flood Control Law | 1997/8/29 | 2016/7/2 |
| 38 | 中华人民共和国节约能源法 Energy Conservation Law | 1997/11/1 | 2018/10/26 |
| 39 | 中华人民共和国建筑法 Construction Law | 1997/11/1 | 2019/4/23 |
| 40 | 中华人民共和国价格法 Pricing Law [NPC trans.] | 1997/12/29 | — |
| 41 | 中华人民共和国种子法 Seed Law [bill page] | 2000/7/8 | 2021/12/24 |
| 42 | 中华人民共和国海域使用管理法 Law on the Administration of the Use of Sea Areas [NPC trans.] | 2001/10/27 | — |
| 43 | 中华人民共和国政府采购法 Government Procurement Law [bill page] | 2002/6/29 | 2014/8/31 |
| 44 | 中华人民共和国中小企业促进法 Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Promotion Law | 2002/6/29 | 2017/9/1 |
| 45 | 中华人民共和国清洁生产促进法 Cleaner Production Promotion Law | 2002/6/29 | 2012/2/29 |
| 46 | 中华人民共和国港口法 Ports Law | 2003/6/28 | 2018/12/29 |
| 47 | 中华人民共和国银行业监督管理法 Banking Supervision and Administration Law [bill page] | 2003/12/27 | 2006/10/31 |
| 48 | 中华人民共和国农业机械化促进法 Agricultural Mechanization Promotion Law [NPC trans. (v. 2004)] | 2004/6/25 | 2018/10/26 |
| 49 | 中华人民共和国可再生能源法 Renewable Energy Law [NPC trans.] | 2005/2/28 | 2009/12/26 |
| 50 | 中华人民共和国畜牧法 Animal Husbandry Law [bill page] | 2005/12/29 | 2022/10/30 |
| 51 | 中华人民共和国农产品质量安全法 Agricultural Products Quality and Safety Law [bill page] | 2006/4/29 | 2022/9/2 |
| 52 | 中华人民共和国反洗钱法 Anti–Money Laundering Law [NPC trans.] | 2006/10/31 | — |
| 53 | 中华人民共和国企业所得税法 Enterprise Income Tax Law [MOFCOM trans. via govt.chinadaily.com.cn (v. 2017)] | 2007/3/16 | 2018/12/29 |
| 54 | 中华人民共和国反垄断法 Anti-Monopoly Law [bill page] | 2007/8/30 | 2022/6/24 |
| 55 | 中华人民共和国循环经济促进法 Circular Economy Promotion Law [NPC trans. (v. 2008)] | 2008/8/29 | 2018/10/26 |
| 56 | 中华人民共和国企业国有资产法 Law on the State-Owned Assets of Enterprises [NPC trans.] | 2008/10/28 | — |
| 57 | 中华人民共和国石油天然气管道保护法 Law on the Protection of Oil and Natural Gas Pipelines | 2010/6/25 | — |
| 58 | 中华人民共和国车船税法 Vehicle and Vessel Tax Law | 2011/2/25 | 2019/4/23 |
| 59 | 中华人民共和国旅游法 Tourism Law | 2013/4/25 | 2018/10/26 |
| 60 | 中华人民共和国航道法 Waterway Law | 2014/12/28 | 2016/7/2 |
| 61 | 中华人民共和国深海海底区域资源勘探开发法 Law on the Exploration and Exploitation of Resources in Deep Seabed Area | 2016/2/26 | — |
| 62 | 中华人民共和国资产评估法 Asset Appraisal Law [bill page] | 2016/7/2 | — |
| 63 | 中华人民共和国网络安全法 Cybersecurity Law [bill page] | 2016/11/7 | — |
| 64 | 中华人民共和国环境保护税法 Environmental Protection Tax Law [$ China Law Translate trans. (v. 2016)] | 2016/12/25 | 2018/10/26 |
| 65 | 中华人民共和国烟叶税法 Tobacco Tax Law [bill page] | 2017/12/27 | — |
| 66 | 中华人民共和国船舶吨税法 Vessel Tonnage Tax Law [bill page] | 2017/12/27 | 2018/10/26 |
| 67 | 中华人民共和国电子商务法 E-Commerce Law [bill page] | 2018/8/31 | — |
| 68 | 中华人民共和国耕地占用税法 Cultivated Land Occupation Tax Law [bill page] | 2018/12/29 | — |
| 69 | 中华人民共和国车辆购置税法 Vehicle Acquisition Tax Law [bill page] | 2018/12/29 | — |
| 70 | 中华人民共和国外商投资法 Foreign Investment Law [bill page] | 2019/3/15 | — |
| 71 | 中华人民共和国资源税法 Resource Tax Law [bill page] | 2019/8/26 | — |
| 72 | 中华人民共和国城市维护建设税法 Urban Maintenance and Construction Tax Law [bill page] | 2020/8/11 | — |
| 73 | 中华人民共和国契税法 Deed Tax Law [bill page] | 2020/8/11 | — |
| 74 | 中华人民共和国出口管制法 Export Control Law [bill page] | 2020/10/17 | — |
| 75 | 中华人民共和国长江保护法 Yangtze River Protection Law [bill page] | 2020/12/26 | — |
| 76 | 中华人民共和国乡村振兴促进法 Rural Revitalization Promotion Law [bill page] | 2021/4/29 | — |
| 77 | 中华人民共和国数据安全法 Data Security Law [bill page] | 2021/6/10 | — |
| 78 | 中华人民共和国海南自由贸易港法 Hainan Free Trade Port Law [bill page] | 2021/6/10 | — |
| 79 | 中华人民共和国印花税法 Stamp Tax Law [bill page] | 2021/6/10 | — |
| 80 | 中华人民共和国个人信息保护法 Personal Information Protection Law [bill page] | 2021/8/20 | — |
| 81 | 中华人民共和国湿地保护法 Wetlands Protection Law [bill page] | 2021/12/24 | — |
| 82 | 中华人民共和国黑土地保护法 Black Soil Protection Law [bill page] | 2022/6/24 | — |
| 83 | 中华人民共和国黄河保护法 Yellow River Protection Law [bill page] | 2022/10/30 | — |
| 84 | 中华人民共和国粮食安全保障法 Law on Ensuring Food Security [bill page] | 2023/12/29 | — |
| 85 | 中华人民共和国关税法 Tariff Law [bill page] | 2024/4/26 | — |
Social Laws [社会法] (28)
China’s social laws are not as developed as other areas. They cover mainly three issue areas: (1) labor relations, social welfare, and workplace safety; (2) protection of special groups (such as minors and disabled persons); and (3) social organizations (including non-governmental organizations) and their activities.
| # | Title | Adopted | Last Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 全国人民代表大会常务委员会关于批准《国务院关于工人退休、退职的暂行办法》的决议 NPCSC Resolution on Approving the State Council’s Interim Measures on Workers’ Retirement and Resignations | 1978/5/24 | — |
| 2 | 全国人民代表大会常务委员会关于批准《国务院关于职工探亲待遇的规定》的决议 NPCSC Resolution on Approving the State Council’s Provisions on the Family Visit Benefits for Employees | 1981/3/6 | — |
| 3 | 中华人民共和国归侨侨眷权益保护法 Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Returned Overseas Chinese and Their Family Members [NPC trans. (v. 2000)] | 1990/9/7 | 2009/8/27 |
| 4 | 中华人民共和国残疾人保障法 Law on the Protection of Disabled Persons [NPC trans. (v. 2008)] | 1990/12/28 | 2018/10/26 |
| 5 | 中华人民共和国未成年人保护法 Minors Protection Law [bill page] | 1991/9/4 | 2024/4/26 |
| 6 | 中华人民共和国工会法 Trade Unions Law [bill page] | 1992/4/3 | 2021/12/24 |
| 7 | 中华人民共和国妇女权益保障法 Law on the Protection of Women’s Rights and Interests [bill page] | 1992/4/3 | 2022/10/30 |
| 8 | 中华人民共和国矿山安全法 Mines Safety Law [NPC trans. (v. 1992)] | 1992/11/7 | 2009/8/27 |
| 9 | 中华人民共和国红十字会法 Red Cross Society Law [ICRC trans.] | 1993/10/31 | 2017/2/24 |
| 10 | 中华人民共和国劳动法 Labor Law [NPC trans. (v. 1994)] | 1994/7/5 | 2018/12/29 |
| 11 | 中华人民共和国母婴保健法 Maternal and Infant Healthcare Law [NPC trans. (v. 1994)] | 1994/10/27 | 2017/11/4 |
| 12 | 中华人民共和国老年人权益保障法 Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly | 1996/8/29 | 2018/12/29 |
| 13 | 中华人民共和国预防未成年人犯罪法 Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Law [bill page] | 1999/6/28 | 2020/12/26 |
| 14 | 中华人民共和国公益事业捐赠法 Public Welfare Donations Law [NPC trans.] | 1999/6/28 | — |
| 15 | 中华人民共和国职业病防治法 Law on the Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases | 2001/10/27 | 2018/12/29 |
| 16 | 中华人民共和国安全生产法 Workplace Safety Law [bill page] | 2002/6/29 | 2021/6/10 |
| 17 | 中华人民共和国劳动合同法 Labor Contract Law | 2007/6/29 | 2012/12/28 |
| 18 | 中华人民共和国就业促进法 Employment Promotion Law [NPC trans. (v. 2007)] | 2007/8/30 | 2015/4/24 |
| 19 | 中华人民共和国社会保险法 Social Insurance Law [MHRSS trans. (v. 2010)] | 2010/10/28 | 2018/12/29 |
| 20 | 中华人民共和国军人保险法 Military Personnel Insurance Law | 2012/4/27 | — |
| 21 | 中华人民共和国特种设备安全法 Special Equipment Safety Law [China Special Equipment Inspection & Research Institute trans.] | 2013/6/29 | — |
| 22 | 中华人民共和国反家庭暴力法 Anti–Domestic Violence Law [$ China Law Translate trans.] | 2015/12/27 | — |
| 23 | 中华人民共和国慈善法 Charity Law [bill page] | 2016/3/16 | 2023/12/29 |
| 24 | 中华人民共和国境外非政府组织境内活动管理法 Law on the Management of the Activities of Overseas Non-Governmental Organizations in Mainland China [bill page] | 2016/4/28 | 2017/11/4 |
| 25 | 中华人民共和国退役军人保障法 Veterans Protection Law [bill page] | 2020/11/11 | — |
| 26 | 中华人民共和国法律援助法 Legal Aid Law [bill page] | 2021/8/20 | — |
| 27 | 中华人民共和国家庭教育促进法 Family Education Promotion Law [bill page] | 2021/10/23 | — |
| 28 | 中华人民共和国无障碍环境建设法 Barrier-Free Environments Development Law [bill page] | 2023/6/28 | — |
Criminal Laws [刑法] (4)
Criminal law here refers to substantive criminal law and consists primarily of the 1997 Criminal Law, China’s unified criminal code, as well as the subsequent standalone amendments to the Criminal Law. For a list of relevant legislative interpretations, see this page.
Litigation & Non-Litigation Procedure Laws [诉讼与非诉讼程序法] (11)
Litigation and non-litigation procedure laws govern the procedures used in litigation and other methods for resolving disputes, such as arbitration and mediation.