The Qingdao Area of the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone, or Qingdao FTZ, has achieved a dual breakthrough in deep-sea biological sample standardization. On Dec 9, the international standard ISO 20309:2025, developed by BGI-Qingdao and multiple institutions, was released. This standard offers unified guidelines for the preservation of global deep-sea biological samples. Just days earlier, on Dec 2, the Chinese national standard GB/T 46753-2025 was also approved and released by the National Standardization Committee.
Developed over the three years since its proposal in December 2022, the international standard fills a critical gap in deep-sea biological sample preservation. Its release signifies that the technical specifications and practical experiences of the Qingdao FTZ have gained global recognition, marking a leap from "local innovation to global benchmark".
The simultaneous release of these standards highlights the zone's effectiveness in promoting marine science and technology innovation and leading industry standardization. This achievement enhances China's influence in deep-sea science and technology.
China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone Qingdao Area
