The China National Intellectual Property Administration ("CNIPA") recently issued the Administrative Measures for Intensive Examination of Patent Applications (for Trial Implementation) (the "Measures"), immediately effective from the date of issuance.

The Measures provide that patent applications to undergo intensive examination should meet four conditions, including "relating to key advantageous industries of the country or having great significance for national or public interest". Further, the Measures clearly state that an applicant requesting intensive examination needs to submit to the examination management department of the CNIPA's Patent Office the application materials for intensive examination which should specify in detail the reasons for intensive examination, a list of all patent applications, one-on-one correspondence between each patent application and the patent application portfolio, signatures or seals of all patent applicants, and the liaison and his or her contact information. Moreover, the Measures note that the aforesaid examination management department will take charge of overall arrangement for and coordination of work on intensive examination. It will give comprehensive consideration to relevant factors, such as applicants' demands, examination sequence and the examination capability for the technical fields involved, and will generally initiate the intensive examination process after three months following the effectiveness of the substantial examination, and mark in the case source system those cases to undergo intensive examination.

(Source:ChinaNational Intellectual Property Administration)