New GMO labeling rules introduced: products made with GM raw materials must be labeled, mung beans prohibited from being labeled non-GMO

Recently many farmers and food industry practitioners have been asking: what exactly has changed with GM labeling? Let's clarify the concept first - GM is another way of saying genetically modified, referring to crops and their products modified through genetic engineering technology. The core of the new rules is really just one sentence: any product made with GM raw materials must be honestly labeled, so consumers can see clearly and buy with confidence.

Which products must be labeled?

According to the thinking behind the new rules, labeling is based on the "source raw material," not on whether GM components can still be detected after processing. That is to say, even after deep processing such as oil extraction, brewing, or refining, where GM components can basically no longer be detected in the product, as long as the original material used was GM soybeans, GM corn, or the like, the label must still state this clearly. Products sold in bulk and raw materials supplied for catering use also cannot "find loopholes" - they must be publicly disclosed or communicated in an appropriate manner as required. The labeling must be placed prominently and the font must be clear; it cannot be hidden in a corner of the packaging to fool people.

Why can't mung beans be labeled "non-GMO"?

Many people find it strange: the mung beans I grow are clearly not genetically modified, so why am I not allowed to label them "non-GMO"? The reason is simple - there are currently no GM mung beans approved for commercial cultivation, and no such thing as GM mung beans exists on the market at all. Given that, using a "non-GMO" label becomes a redundant gimmick and can easily lead consumers to mistakenly believe that "other mung beans are genetically modified," which constitutes misleading advertising. The same principle applies to crops such as red beans and millet, for which no GM varieties currently exist. When making packaging or promotional materials in the future, never use such wording.

What should growers and operators pay attention to?

For growers, the first thing is to buy seeds through proper channels and first find out what is permitted to be grown locally and how. The cultivation and handling of GM crops is subject to strict approval management - by no means introduce seeds of unknown origin on your own. At the same time, keep purchase receipts and farming records, which facilitates traceability and also serves as self-protection. For purchasing, processing, and sales enterprises, they must strictly control the sourcing, request raw material certification documents from suppliers, and establish ledgers to ensure that labeling content matches the actual raw materials. For specific requirements such as packaging text and label placement, the implementation details published by local agriculture and market regulatory authorities shall prevail.

Finally, a reminder to consumers: when shopping, take an extra look at the label, look for compliant labeling, and take a rational view of terms like "GMO" and "non-GMO." The more standardized labeling is, the less concept hype and confusion there will be in the market - which is good for farmers, food producers, and grocery shoppers alike.