China issues list of import GM crops

China has so far granted the import of a list of genetically modified (GM) crops including soybean, corn, oilseed rape, cotton and sugar beet, the People's Daily reported on Monday, adding that these plants have to gain a safety certificate issued by Chinese authorities.

This was in a response to public doubt on whether the country has stringent enough standards on what GM crops can be planted domestically and what can be imported.

Cotton, rice, corn and papaya are issued with a valid safety certificate, Xie Jiajian, a research fellow with the Institute of Plant Protection under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), was quoted by the People's Daily as saying on Monday, adding that the certificates can be traced by the public on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture.

However, not all certified food is suitable to be planted for commercial purposes.

Xie said that in China only cotton and papaya are allowed, meaning that anyone can plant it.

Ahead of certificate issuance, there is a long process.

"The research and development companies have to first file applications to the State Agricultural GM Crop Bio-safety Committee for review," Yan said, adding that these applications can only be approved after ministerial-level discussions.

Fang Zhouzi, an expert in chemical biology, told the Global Times on Monday that after the company is granted with a certificate, it must apply for a commercial plantation license within the validity period.

"Some crops are proved to be safe, but they are not allowed for commercial use because the seeds are low output, which is not suitable for mass plantation," said Fang.

Almost all papaya and soybean oil we can see are genetically modified, according to Fang.

The difference is that papaya is not labeled as GM since it's not packaged food, and soybean oil is labeled in accordance with the country's law, he told the Global Times.

Experts from CAAS also clarified that cherry tomatoes, small pumpkins and small cucumbers are not GM food, in a move to clarify the widespread lists of GM food online.

"Commercial use of GM pimento, which carries an antiviral gene, was once approved by authorities, but it was later marginalized by the market since it has no advantage," said Wu Gang, a CAAS research fellow.

GM food is proved safe, but it is impossible to have food that is absolutely safe, Fang said.