Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
March 24, 2004
from
Resource News
International via
Checkbiotech.org
China GM issue to affect canola
Canola is not approved for import into China after April 20th,
when the temporary safety certificates for GMO products expire
and imports may be halted as a result, said Shi Yanquan, Head of
the GMO office for
China's Ministry of Agriculture.
Speaking to reporters at the Canola Council Convention here, Shi
indicated that only 5 varieties or "events" have been approved
and they include some soybeans and soy products and some
corn and corn products. He said that a further 12 events
have not been approved and that canola and its products
are among them.
In February, the Chinese government established temporary safety
certificates which permitted the import of products that have
been genetically modified. Those temporary certificates expire
April 20th and Shi indicated that he did not expect any further
extensions on the safety certificates.
Speaking through an interpreter, he stated that on April 21st
only GMO products with the normal safety certificates will be
allowed to be imported. He noted that for human consumption
products, such as canola or soybeans, the safety certificates
will be reviewed every 3 years by the Chinese government. For
non human consumption products the review would take place every
5 years. He said China's Agriculture ministry was testing the
products on two main issues. The first was the issue of human
health and the second was the issue of environmental impact.
Shi said that products that have not been approved were rejected
mainly because of incomplete information from the developer of
the GMO product.
Shi stated that China is not against GMO developments and has
already approved 4 plants for public consumption. He said that
GMO cotton accounts for 50% of the country's production.
He also noted that tomatoes and green peppers,
although not in commercial production, have been approved for
public consumption.
Shi revealed that China has done some early development of GMO
wheat, but because of the importance of grain, China was
advancing very slowly on the project. He also indicated that
China had test fields of GMO canola, with the project aimed at
increasing the oil content of the seed.
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