In reality, the Cherry Valley ducks were originally brought home from China by the British, who then developed a crossbreed between the Pekin and native stock. Today, however, China is spending some 200 million yuan a year to import them.

State Environment Protection Administration's biological resources and species safety management office chief Cai Lei expresses his concerns over the "reversed" flow of species like the Cherry Valley ducks, which originated in China but have been modified and improved by foreign countries to be later exported back to China. Cai believes the situation is a threat to China's biosafety.

Another example is when the Chinese gooseberry seed arrived in New Zealand and was adapted and improved upon to become Kiwi fruit, which is now a global household name and a symbol of the country.

Cai believes that species outflow leads to a loss in biodiversity and a threat to the safety of species in the country. In addition, it has a negative impact on domestic agriculture.

Some Chinese academics accused those sampling species in foreign lands as "pirates of life". They argue that some foreign experts have come to China in the name of scientific research and exchange, but they are in fact searching for biological resources. Some foreign firms have also set up bases in China to openly collect various species and find means to transport them overseas. Once back home, the species would undergo research and at times, become patented as a unique product of another country. 

In realizing the threats, China has incepted a biological resources and species safety administration bureau in August 2003 under the State Environment Protection Department. To further step up controls, the State Council approved a national biological resources protection guideline in November this year. 

The guideline states that the government will work to stop the trend of drastic decreases in biodiversity by 2010. In addition, the drafting of a biological resources and species export management regulations is also in the pipeline.