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China has strict rules on GM imports
04.08.2010 09:39 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) —
China attaches great importance to the safety of transgenetic food and imposes strict rules over the imports of genetic modified agricultural products, said an official with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Chinas top economic planner.
Currently, there are over 20 varieties of genetically modified corn in the world. Of them, 11 have passed Chinas food safety check and won permits to enter China, the official said.
China has seldom imported corn, and this year is the first time China has imported corn in large quantities, he said.
Imported corn must be examined by the agricultural and quarantine authorities, and their storage, shipment and processing are subject to the scrutiny of quality inspection bureaus.
The residues of processed corn should be destroyed and banned from circulation on the raw grain market.
In the case of soybeans, China imported 166 million metric tons (tonnes) from 2005 to 2009, most of which was genetically modified. But thanks to strict regulatory measures, the imports did not produce any adverse effect on the safety of soy oil and fodder.
The remarks of the official came after media reports that COFCO, a leading grain, oils and foodstuffs import and export group in China, imported 61,000 metric tons (tonnes) of transgenetic corn from the US. It is the first time COFCO has imported such a large amount of transgenetic corn in 14 years.
The corn will be shipped to South Chinas Guangdong province and used as fodder.
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