China's national chief veterinary officer Jia Youling said here Wednesday that the Chinese government will not allow unsupervised scientific research on highly pathogenic microbes.

In response to the closure of a domestic pathogenic microbe lab sponsored by Guan Yi, a professor in the Hong Kong University, Jia said at a press conference that the lab was found operating without government permission and failed to meet the national standard.

Besides Guan's lab, which was located in Shantou University in south China's Guangdong Province, the Chinese government also launched an inspection of other 12 labs in the first half of this year, finding three unqualified.

All these labs are suspected of conducting research on highly pathogenic microbes, said Jia, also director of the Veterinary Department of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Jia said all countries in the world have strict limits and regulations on the research of high pathogenic microbes. According to the international animal health norm, research in the third and fourth grades of pathogenic microbes must be done under governmental supervision and control.

The purpose is to ensure the safety of the public and prevent the pathogenic microbes from being used by terrorists, said Jia.

China's State Council issued a national lab safety regulation last year giving specific requirements of experiments with pathogenic microbes.

According to the regulation, all Chinese labs must get approval before conducting research on pathogenic microbes. Applications must also be approved by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture.

(Xinhua News Agency December 15, 2005)