NPC Released Revised Mapping Law

National People’s Committee (NPC) has released China’s Surveying and Mapping Law (Revision), which will be effective on July 1, 2017. The current version was drafted in 1992, and the revision process began as early as 2002. This Revised Law aims to facilitate information sharing and application, strengthen satellite navigation and position reference station management, tighten security controls on geological information, and remove redundant administrative measures. The Revision Law applies to anyone engaging in surveying & mapping within the territory of China, include the activities conducted to determine, collect and formulate the key elements of physical geography or the shapes, sizes, space positions, attributes, etc. of man-made on-ground installations, as well as to process and provide the data, information and results gained therefrom.

According to the Revised Law, foreign organizations and personnel cannot conduct surveying and mapping activities without cooperating and obtaining the approval of relevant government agencies. These activities shall not involve state secrets or endanger national security. Personal information used or collected by geographic information producers/users and Internet map service providers are subject to laws and regulations on personal information protection. An increased concern over data security is emphasized in a number of articles in the Revised Law, namely when setting up satellite navigation and position reference stations, applying for a surveying and mapping license, and providing Internet mapping services. Also, a license is needed to conduct surveying and mapping activities and detailed conditions for license approval may be found on the NPC website.