China proposes new rules to ease GMO approvals

Origin Agritech

14/11/2021 14:49

BEIJING, Nov 14 (Reuters) - China is planning changes to its
seed regulations that will make it easier to approve genetically
modified crops, a move seen as a critical step towards
commercialising GM corn.
    The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs published a
draft document late on Friday proposing a series of amendments
to several different regulations that cover GM crops.
    The changes implement decisions by the Communist party's
powerful Central Committee and the cabinet on safe management of
genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, and development of a
modern seed industry, according to the statement.
    China's leadership last year called for an urgent
"turnaround" in the country's seed industry, which is struggling
with overcapacity and rampant infringement of intellectual
property that has stifled innovation in the sector.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2IZ059
    Top policymakers also urged progress in biotech breeding,
widely seen as GM crops, and seen as key to ensuring food
security.
    Beijing has invested heavily in GM research and development
for years but has been cautious about commercialising plants
that enter the food chain and has never permitted planting of GM
soybeans or corn even though they can be imported for use in
animal feed.
    Among the many proposed changes, a GM trait applied to an
already approved hybrid would only need to undergo a one-year
production trial before receiving approval, rather than going
through the full round of trials needed for new varieties.
    "I believe that this is a significant step for GMO
commercialisation," said Han Gengchen, chairman of Origin
Agritech Ltd SEED.O  , the first Chinese company to develop GM
corn crops.
    "It clarifies the procedures for GMO variety approvals and
simplifies the process. It will accelerate GMO corn commercial
production," he told Reuters.
    The proposals came after last week's plenum, or closed-door
meeting of more than 300 top leaders of the party's Central
Committee.
    The draft is open to public comment until Dec. 12.

 (Reporting by Dominique Patton; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
 ((dominique.patton@thomsonreuters.com;))