China Alerter April 2010

Milestones: China’s New Law on Tort Liability

On December 26, 2009, after several years of preparation the National People’s Congress adopted the People’s Republic of China, Law on Tort Liability (Tort Law). The wide-ranging Tort Law constitutes a legislative milestone in the field of fault-based and strict liability in tort. It gov-erns, amongst others, liability for infringement of protected rights, product liability, and liability for motor vehicles, medical tort, pharmacy and medical equipment, for ultra-hazardous activities (e.g. operation of civil nuclear facilities and aircrafts), liability of internet service providers, as well as liability for environmental pollution. The Tort Law will come into effect as of July 1, 2010. The new law is an important part of China’s civil law codification and complements the Contract Law of 1999 and the Property Law of 2007.

Anwälte Ingo Vinck