China will ban the sale of human body parts and its related commercial activities from August 1.

According to the new regulation, "no organization or individual is allowed to accept body part donations except medical institutes, medical schools, medical research institutes and forensic research institutes," Xinhua News Agency reported Saturday.

The transport of bodies to and from China will have to be approved by the civil affairs departments, customs and quarantine authorities.

At the beginning of July, the first law concerning the donation of organs and the conduct of transplant operations came into effect in order to regulate the practice.

About 20,000 transplants are conducted in China each year. At least 2 million Chinese patients require such operations, according to Xinhua.

Foreign media have reported that organs for transplant in China have been taken from executed criminals, but the Ministry of Health has repeatedly denied the claim, saying such reports are "untrue" and a "malicious slander" of China's judiciary system.

"Most organs in China have been voluntarily donated by ordinary citizens upon their death, and a small number are from executed criminals who voluntarily signed donation approvals," ministry spokesman Mao Qun'an said, according to earlier reports.

(Chinadaily.com.cn July 17, 2006)