Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of the System on the Limitation of Actions in the «PRC General Provisions of the Civil Law»
关于适用《中华人民共和国民法总则》诉讼时效制度若干问题的解释
A 3-year limitation period is applied to civil law cases
(Promulgated by the Supreme People's Court on July 18, 2018 and effective as of July 23, 2018.)
（最高人民法院于二零一八年七月十八日发布，自二零一八年七月二十三日起施行。）
SPC Interpretation [2018] No.12
法释〔2018〕12号
The Interpretation has been formulated in light of adjudication practice in order to correctly apply the provisions of the PRC General Provisions of the Civil Law (the General Provisions) on the system on the limitation of actions and protect the lawful rights and interests of concerned parties.
为正确适用《中华人民共和国民法总则》关于诉讼时效制度的规定，保护当事人的合法权益，结合审判实践，制定本解释。
Article 1: Where a period of limitation of actions has commenced to count after the implementation of the General Provisions, the provision on the three-year period of limitation of actions of Article 188 of the General Provisions shall apply. Where a party asserts that the provision on the two-year or one-year period of limitation of actions of the General Principles of the Civil Law be applied, the people's court shall reject such assertion.
第一条 : 民法总则施行后诉讼时效期间开始计算的，应当适用民法总则第一百八十八条关于三年诉讼时效期间的规定。当事人主张适用民法通则关于二年或者一年诉讼时效期间规定的，人民法院不予支持。
Article 2: If, on the implementation date of the General Provisions, a two-year or one-year period of limitation of actions as specified in the General Principles of the Civil Law had not expired and a party asserts that the provision on the three-year period of limitation of actions specified in the General Provisions be applied, the people's court shall uphold such assertion.
第二条 : 民法总则施行之日，诉讼时效期间尚未满民法通则规定的二年或者一年，当事人主张适用民法总则关于三年诉讼时效期间规定的，人民法院应予支持。
Article 3: If a two-year or one-year period of limitation of actions as specified in the General Principles of the Civil Law had expired prior to the implementation of the General Provisions and a party asserts that the provision on the three-year period of limitation of actions of the General Provisions be applied, the people's court shall reject such assertion.
第三条 : 民法总则施行前，民法通则规定的二年或者一年诉讼时效期间已经届满，当事人主张适用民法总则关于三年诉讼时效期间规定的，人民法院不予支持。
Article 4: If, on the implementation date of the General Provisions, the reason for the tolling of a limitation of actions had not been extinguished, the provisions of the General Provisions on the tolling of the limitation of actions shall apply.
第四条 : 民法总则施行之日，中止时效的原因尚未消除的，应当适用民法总则关于诉讼时效中止的规定。
Article 5: The Interpretation shall be effective as of July 23, 2018.
第五条 : 本解释自2018年7月23日起施行。
If a case is still at the first instance or appeal stage after the implementation hereof, the Interpretation shall apply thereto. If a case was final before the implementation hereof and a party applies for retrial or a decision for retrial is rendered through the adjudication supervision procedure, the Interpretation shall not apply thereto.
clp reference: 1420/18.07.18 promulgated: 2018-07-18 effective: 2018-07-23本解释施行后，案件尚在一审或者二审阶段的，适用本解释；本解释施行前已经终审，当事人申请再审或者按照审判监督程序决定再审的案件，不适用本解释。
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