Over 80 million tons of genetically modified soybeans imported, Ministry of Agriculture says they are used for oil extraction
Original headline: Most of China's soybean imports last year were genetically modified; Ministry of Agriculture responds on their use
Ministry of Agriculture holds its first special press conference on GMOs (web image: Zhang Shaolei, China.com Finance)
China imported 81.69 million tons of soybeans last year, most of them genetically modified. As for their use, Liao Xiyuan, Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Education of the Ministry of Agriculture, said today (the 13th) that currently China's imported soybeans are mainly used for two purposes: first, feed-grade soybean meal, and second, edible soybean oil.
The Information Office of the Ministry of Agriculture held a press conference today to brief on the situation regarding agricultural GMOs and to answer questions from reporters.
According to public information from the Ministry of Agriculture, China imported 81.69 million tons of soybeans last year, most of them genetically modified. At the press conference, a reporter asked why the import volume was so large, what these soybeans are used for respectively, and how their safety assessment is carried out if they are used as soybean meal or for food.
Liao Xiyuan said that with economic development and the improvement of people's living standards, China's demand for soybeans has been increasing. Currently, China's imported soybeans are mainly used for two purposes: first, feed-grade soybean meal, and second, edible soybean oil. Taking edible soybean oil as an example, against the backdrop of a large increase in edible oil consumption among the more than one billion people, importing soybeans is necessary and unavoidable.
Liao Xiyuan explained that imported GM soybeans are determined by global soybean production and trade. In 2014, the global soybean planting area was "1.65 billion mu", of which GM soybeans accounted for "1.36 billion mu", about 82%. China's total imports account for 70% of world trade volume, but only 30% of world production. In other words, most GM soybeans are still consumed abroad.
Liao Xiyuan said that GM soybeans are safe. Having undergone safety approval both domestically and internationally, China's import safety approval is even stricter, and the approval decisions are more prudent. In the safety assessment process, various known uses have been fully taken into consideration.
Liao Xiyuan explained that any application for China's import safety certificate must meet four preconditions:
-- The exporting country or region has already allowed the corresponding use and placed it on the market.
-- The exporting country or region has proven through scientific experiments that it is harmless to humans, animals, plants, microorganisms and the ecological environment.
-- Testing by an agricultural GMO biotechnology inspection institution recognized by China confirms that there is no risk to humans, animals, microorganisms and the ecological environment.
-- There are corresponding safety control measures for the use. After the import safety certificate is approved, whether to import and how much to import are determined by the market. (According to China News Service, April 13)