Do all patent applications involving biomaterials need to be preserved? Where should they be kept?

The following situations are deemed to be available to the public and need not be preserved: (1) Biomaterials that the public can purchase from domestic and foreign commercial channels shall be indicated in the instructions, and if necessary, evidence that the public can purchase the biomaterials before the application date (priority date, if any) shall be provided; (ii) Biological materials that have been preserved in patent offices of various countries or patent procedure depository institutions recognized by international patent organizations, and have been published or authorized in the patent bulletin before the filing date (if any) of the patent application submitted to China; (3) The biomaterial that must be used in the patent application shall indicate the source of the document in the specification on the date of application (if there is a priority date), and explain the way for the public to obtain the biomaterial. The patent applicant shall provide proof to ensure that the biomaterial will be published within 20 years from the date of application. China National Intellectual Property Administration-recognized preservation units refer to the international preservation units of biological material samples recognized by Budapest Treaty, including China General Microbiology Center (CGMCC) in Beijing and China Type Culture Collection Center (CCTCC) in Wuhan.