China adopts revised Civil Aviation Law to update regulations for the sector

China has adopted a revised Civil Aviation Law aimed at updating the country's legal framework for a rapidly evolving aviation sector, including the growing use of unmanned aircraft, and the new draft will come into force on July 1, according to the National People's Congress, China's top legislative body, on Saturday.

The law was approved on Saturday by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

The Civil Aviation Law is the country's primary statute governing civil aviation activities. It sets out rules to protect national airspace sovereignty, ensure the safe and orderly operation of civil aviation, and safeguard the legitimate rights of airlines, airports, manufacturers, and passengers.

The revised law contains 16 chapters and 262 articles. Lawmakers said the update is designed to align regulations with changes in the aviation industry, new technologies, and emerging business models. It also aims to support the development of aviation manufacturing, air transport services, and the low-altitude economy.

A major feature of the revision is tighter oversight of civil unmanned aircraft. Under the new law, entities engaged in the design, production, import, maintenance, and operation of civil drones will generally be required to obtain airworthiness certification from the national civil aviation authority, unless exempted under specific regulations. Drone manufacturers must also assign a unique identification code to each aircraft, a measure intended to improve traceability and regulatory oversight.

The law also strengthens aviation safety rules. It explicitly bans the use of lasers that could interfere with airport visual navigation systems and details prohibited activities that may disrupt the electromagnetic environment around airports. In addition, airlines and airport operators are permitted to take necessary measures if their safety support capacity is deemed insufficient.

Provisions related to legal liability and enforcement have also been updated.

The revised law reflects China's efforts to modernize aviation regulation as air travel demand grows and new technologies reshape the sector.