The purpose of these Measures is to provide for the protection, development and rational use of wildlife resources and the maintaining of ecological balances. The Measures is divided into 5 Chapters: General Provisions (I); Protection of Wildlife (II); Wildlife Management (III); Legal Responsibility (IV); Supplementary Provisions (V).
The explanation of wildlife under protection of these Measures are given by article 2. The Departments of forestry and fisheries shall be responsible for administration of terrestrial and aquatic wildlife (art. 4). The departments of wildlife administration shall organize the investigation on wild animal resources, establish archives of wild animal resources (art. 13). Relatively more concentrated wildlife habitats, breeding grounds of wildlife to be protected as prescribed in these Measures, shall be designated as sanctuaries (art. 8). For the export of wildlife or its products under special state protection, or the import and export of wildlife or their products that are restricted by international conventions to which China is a party, a certificate of import and export permission shall be obtained(art. 25). Any individual or unit domesticating or breeding of wildlife must apply for the permission. The remaining articles make provisions, inter alia, for hunting, sale and purchase of wildlife, export of wildlife and awards and penalties.