China's Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuratorate have jointly issued a 21-article judicial interpretation to strengthen cultivated land protection and ensure food security.
The interpretation took effect on Monday and explicitly prohibits acts such as building structures or graves on cultivated land, digging sand, quarrying or mining. Courts must void related contracts.
Prosecutors may initiate public interest litigation if illegal occupation causes environmental pollution or ecological damage. Harsher penalties apply for serious offenses including refusal to rectify after orders or violent resistance.
Geng Baojian, a member of the judicial committee of the SPC, said cultivated land is the backbone of food production. Between 2020 and 2025 courts nationwide concluded nearly 240,000 administrative cases, around 400,000 civil cases and more than 45,000 criminal cases.
Yu Shuangbiao, deputy head of the legal policy research office of the SPP, noted the interpretation implements the Ecological and Environmental Code adopted in March and strengthens collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Natural Resources.