China to accept GMO Import Ctf applications from end of July
( 2003-07-11 16:56) (Agencies)
China's Agriculture Ministry will start accepting applications for safety
certificates to import crops containing genetically modified organisms at the
end of July, a ministry official said Friday.
The applications will allow arrivals of foreign soybean cargoes after Sept.
20.
"We will start accepting such applications at the end of this month," said
the official from the GMO Safety Regulation Office.
Some market participants said the Agriculture Ministry will start accepting
applications starting July 20, but the ministry official said he couldn't
confirm if that is the date.
Under China's strict interim GMO rules, domestic importers and foreign
suppliers have to apply for GMO safety certificates and labeling permits from
the Agriculture Ministry, as well as quarantine permits from the Administration
of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine before contracts can be signed
and cargoes unloaded.
Although Agriculture Ministry officials had confirmed earlier that the
interim GMO rules have been extended until April 20, 2004, from Sept. 20 this
year, the lack of an official notice had kept soybean importers on edge. The
government had earlier refused to accept certificate applications for foreign
soybean cargoes arriving after Sept. 20.
China has said it is implementing interim GMO rules for now, as it needs time
for additional field trials of GMO strains before permanent rules can be drawn
up.
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