A new guideline issued by China's top prosecuting authority on Thursday urges action against all governmental officials found to be tampering with scientific research.

The guideline, made up of 15 articles, stipulates that every prosecutor must play their role in preventing crimes related to scientific research, in a bid to provide a better environment for the country's scientific and technical development.

Issued by the Supreme People's Procuratorate and effective since Wednesday, it calls for a crackdown on governmental officials who interfere with scientific research, cause the failure of related projects or divulge scientific secrets.

Any governmental officers who make use of their position to illegally approve scientific research projects, ask for bribes from researchers or embezzle public funds for related studies will face criminal liabilities, it said.

Anyone who offers bribes in a bid to disturb the scientific research environment will be similarly punished, according to the guideline.

Prosecutors are also required to supervise scientific research institutes when taking judicial advice and effectively implementing the guideline.

Xiao Wei, spokeswoman for the top prosecuting authority, said the guideline highlights the fight against those infringing upon intellectual property rights and is aimed at improving the copyrighting and patenting of scientific achievements.

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