In 2014, imported soybeans exceeded 71 million tons, most of them genetically modified
On the 3rd, Chen Xiwen, deputy head of the Central Rural Work Leading Group and director of its office, and Han Jun, deputy director of the office of the Central Rural Work Leading Group, interpreted the relevant circumstances of the "Several Opinions on Increasing the Intensity of Reform and Innovation and Accelerating Agricultural Modernization". Han Jun said that the genetically modified crops that China has now approved for commercial cultivation are mainly cotton and papaya. At the same time, it has approved the import of some foreign genetically modified agricultural products, mainly soybeans, including rapeseed, cotton, and corn. Last year, imported soybeans exceeded 71 million tons, most of which were genetically modified soybeans.
The 2015 No. 1 Central Document released recently pointed out that research on agricultural genetically modified biotechnology, safety management, and science popularization should be strengthened. In response, Han Jun said that this is a consistent policy, because genetically modified organisms can be said to be a new technology and a new industry with great development prospects.
⟦NL> “It can be said that in the field of genetically modified research, China started relatively early, and we have a very good team of scientists. Although overall we still have an obvious gap with the level of developed countries in the world in terms of research, in some fields we can be said to be at the world's leading level. Especially regarding research on genetically modified rice and corn, it can be said to be at a leading level.” Han Jun said.
Han Jun said that as a large country of 1.3 billion people, China has a large population and little land, and the environmental and resource constraints facing agricultural development are becoming stronger and stronger. In research on genetically modified biotechnology, we cannot fall behind. This point is clear.
Han Jun also said that this year's No. 1 Central Document proposed strengthening the safety management of agricultural genetically modified organisms, and this point is China's consistent policy. Proceeding from its own national conditions and drawing on international experience, China has already established a legal and regulatory system, a technical protocol system, and a government administrative management system for the safety management of agricultural genetically modified biotechnology that is in line with international standards. This set of systems covers every link of genetically modified organisms from research, testing, production, processing, import approval to product labeling. All activities and all behaviors in China have laws to abide by and rules to follow. As soon as our administrative departments in charge discover [problems], they will definitely impose severe punishment according to law. This is beyond doubt.