Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs: Pilot programs for the industrial application of genetically modified organisms are being steadily advanced.

Release Date:

2022-07-26

On the 20th, Zeng Yande, Chief Agronomist of China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Director-General of the Department of Development Planning, stated that China’s pilot programs for the industrial application of genetically modified organisms are progressing in an orderly manner.

At a press conference held that day by the State Council Information Office, Zeng Yande stated that, as an emerging technology, genetic modification is being rapidly advanced worldwide. China has also established corresponding research-and-development and evaluation systems and has developed a number of varieties with independent intellectual property rights.

“Throughout the process of advancing research and development in agricultural genetic modification technologies, we have upheld scientific rigor, maintained stringent regulatory oversight, and steadily promoted the industrial application of biotechnological breeding,” said Zeng Yande. He added that China has advanced the R&D of agricultural genetic modification in strict compliance with laws and regulations, formulating a comprehensive set of rules and procedures—covering safety assessments, variety approval, seed production and marketing, and plant variety naming—in accordance with the Seed Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Regulations on the Administration of Genetically Modified Organisms in Crops.

In June this year, the National Crop Variety Approval Committee issued a notice promulgating the “National Standards for the Approval of Genetically Modified Soybean Varieties (Trial)” and the “National Standards for the Approval of Genetically Modified Corn Varieties (Trial),” requiring all specialized committees under the committee to implement and strictly adhere to these standards effective from the date of issuance. Industry experts regard this as a pivotal step toward the commercialization of genetically modified soybeans and corn in China.

In response, Zeng Yande stated that this standard is primarily an extension of the existing approval criteria for non‑genetically modified varieties. The fundamental requirements—such as high yield and disease resistance—remain unchanged; the only addition is the inclusion of specific traits unique to GM varieties, including insect resistance and herbicide tolerance. At the same time, oversight at critical stages—including research and development trials, as well as seed production and marketing—is extremely stringent. Any violations are rigorously investigated upon discovery, with “enforcement being strict and yielding positive results.”

Zeng Yande stated that China’s pilot programs for the industrial application of genetically modified organisms are progressing in an orderly manner. For GM corn and soybean varieties that have obtained safety certificates for production and application, limited field trials are being conducted, and these efforts are currently advancing as planned. Last year’s pilot projects yielded positive results; this year marks the second year of the program, and it will continue to be implemented in a well‑organized fashion, in strict compliance with relevant regulations and requirements.

Source: China News Service

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