New rules make GMO testing more transparent

Newly released regulations would make testing and planting of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in agriculture more transparent in China, an expert said Wednesday.

The revised Regulations on Administration of Agricultural GMO Safety, which was released on Monday by the State Council, provide specific requirements on applying for a safety certificate on agricultural GMOs, adding that the test must be conducted by a certified institution.

The revised regulation has removed a provision which states that companies can apply for farmers to help them gain approval to raise genetically modified animals or plants.

The regulation added that foreign companies need to report experiment materials and testing methods to agricultural regulators when they export agricultural GMO to China for processing purposes.

“The changes are very useful as it makes management more effective,” said Zhu Yi, associate professor at China Agricultural University’s College of Food and Science.

The changes will make the industry more transparent from stricter management in each process, which also make China’s agricultural genetically modified organisms more reliable, she added.

The safety of GM products has always been a controversial topic in China. The country has been approving fewer GM crops in recent years.