China has not approved commercial production of any genetically modified (GM) staple food, Chinese Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu has said.
“We have been cautious over GM food because we want to make sure that it is safe,” he said at a press conference on Thursday on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People’s Congress.
“The government has never allowed any other GM agricultural products to be planted except cotton and papaya,” Mr. Han said.
China granted bio safety certificates in 2009 to two pest-resistant GM rice varieties and one type of corn, the first country to allow field trials of GM staple foods.
Stating that the country’s GM safety regime remains strict, Mr. Han threatened severe punishment for any unauthorised GM crop sales, planting and field trials.
In China, 90 per cent of soybean oil is made from GM soybeans. Mr. Han said he himself consumes food containing GM ingredients.
“Whether GM food is safe or not should not be decided by departments or individuals, it should be decided by scientists following strict standards and procedures,” he said.
China has set up committees of experts to supervise GM crop safety management.
