Recently, Bayer Healthcare Co., Ltd. passed the filing review of the Negative List for Cross-Border Data Flow in the E-Town Cluster of the High-end Industries Area in the China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone, becoming Beijing’s first enterprise eligible to transfer data across national borders under the negative list policy in the Pilot Free Trade Zone.

Cross-border data transfer now serves as a critical link in global resource allocation. Against this background, Beijing released its first scenario-based and field-level negative list for cross-border data flow at the end of August, accurately quantifying personal information for outbound transfers and sensitive personal data, and moderately relaxing relevant criteria. Data outside the negative list can be exempted from the prior supervisory procedures for cross-border data transfers, which enables enterprises to meet their appropriate and necessary cross-border data transfer needs to the fullest extent.

Shortly after the release of the municipal negative list, Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (Beijing E-Town) enacted the Implementation Opinions on the Negative List for Cross-Border Data Flow in the E-Town Cluster of the High-end Industries Area in China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone. The document aims to support enterprises in the Pilot Free Trade Zone in utilizing the negative list to transfer data abroad. In addition, it established a closed-loop regulatory mechanism including regular reporting and selective inspections, facilitating the safe and compliant application for outbound data flow.

Not long ago, Bayer submitted an application for negative list filing based on its business needs. “It took only five working days to obtain the filing conclusion after the application. Compared with the compliance requirements that enterprises must fulfill before the introduction of the negative list, the current procedures have been greatly simplified,” said the company’s representative. The filing streamlines the application processes required for data export and addresses the compliance challenges faced by the company, therefore facilitating its business operation and introduction of innovative drugs and therapeutics.

Furthermore, the Beijing E-Town Service Station of the Beijing Municipal Data Cross-Border Service Center began operation in Xinchuang Park recently. As one of Beijing’s first four data cross-border service centers, this station offers one-stop services for enterprises, including negative list policy consultation, admission applications, filing assessments, supervision checks and technical support.

Going forward, Beijing E-Town will better regulate and promote orderly cross-border data flow to enhance the E-Town Cluster’s management capability and facilitation of outbound data transfers. This approach aims to gradually foster the “four batches” of achievements, namely a batch of negative lists, management measures, service systems, and typical cases that align with E-Town’s industrial development needs, according to a relevant official of Beijing E-Town.

(Written by Cao Zhen)