China
Country introduction:
Regulations on Safety of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms (hereafter referred to as the Regulations)was promulgated by Decree No. 304 of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China on May 23, 2001. Implementation Regulations on Safety Assessment of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Implementation Regulations on the Safety of Import of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms and Implementation Regulations on Labeling of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms are formulated by Ministry of Agriculture on January 5, 2002 in accordance with the Regulations. The State Council establishes a system of joint ministry conference for the safety administration of agricultural GMOs. The joint ministry conference for the safety administration of agricultural GMOs shall be composed of officials from relevant departments of agriculture, science and technology, environment protection, public health, foreign trade and economic cooperation, inspection and quarantine, and be responsible for the decision-making and coordination of major issues with respect to the safety administration of agricultural GMOs. According to Article 9 of the Regulations, a national biosafety committee (NBC) shall be established and in charge of safety assessment of agricultural GMOs. The NBC shall be composed of experts who are engaged in biological research, production, processing, inspection and quarantine with respect to agricultural GMOs, as well as experts in the fields of public health and environmental protection. The office term of the NBC shall be three years. Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for the nationwide supervision and administration of the safety of agricultural GMOs. The Ministry of Agriculture sets up an office for biosafety administration of agricultural GMOs(OBA), which will be in charge of the administration of the safety assessment of agricultural GMOs. OBA is Affiliated to the Department of Science, Technology and Education.
Regulatory framework:
My country has a regulatory framework that requires the competent authority to conduct safety assessment of GM food.
Structure for GM food safety assessment:
My country has competent authority, agency, organization, ministry, department, committee, commission or a system/mechanism that is tasked to conduct or review GM food safety assessment.
Supplemental information (regulatory framework):
In accordance with the Regulations on Safety of Agricultural GMOs and the Implementation Regulations on Safety Assessment of Agricultural GMOs, China has established the safety assessment system focusing on dangers or potential risks posed by agricultural GMOs to human beings. China has also established the National Biosafety Committee of Agricultural GMOs (NBC) for safety assessment of agricultural GMOs, which is under the examination and approval of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Relevant contact details:
office for biosafety administration of agricultural GMOs(OBA), the Department of Science, Technology and Education,MOA, P. R. China Tel:+86-10-59193059, Fax:+86-10-59193072, E-mail: gmo@agri.gov.cn
GM food safety assessment guidelines:
My country follows the relevant Codex Guidelines or national/regional guidelines that are in line with the Codex Guidelines in conducting safety assessment of GM food.
Conduct of GM food safety assessment:
My country regularly conducts food safety assessment of GM food.
Supplemental information (assessment):
Regulation stacked events:
Stacked events require full assessment as a new GM event.
Supplemental information (stacked events):
GM food/feed production:
My country produces GM food or feed for commercial and research purposes.
GM food/feed imports:
My country allows imports GM food or feed upon authorization.
Supplemental information (production and trade):
LLP/AP incidents:
My country has faced LLP/AP situations in the last 10 years.
Supplemental information (LLP/AP incidents):
Labelling requirement:
My country has a mandatory and positive labeling regulation on GM food (i.e., It contains GMO).
Supplemental information (labelling requirement):
According to the Regulations on Safety of Agricultural GMOs and the Implementation Regulations on Labeling of Agricultural GMOs, China adopts the labeling system for agricultural GMOs. Any agricultural GMOs listed in the labeling catalog and with marketing intentions within the boundary of the People’s Republic of China must be labeled accordingly. Any agricultural GMOs that bear no label or whose label is not in conformity with labeling requirements must not be imported or sold.
The following 17 products in 5 categories are included in the first group of agricultural GMOs under the labeling system:
(1) Soybean seeds, soybean, soybean flour, soybean oil, and soybean meal;
(2) Corn seeds, corn, corn oil, corn flour (including corn flour with the tax code of 11022000, 11031300 and 11042300);
(3) Rape seeds, rapeseed, rapeseed oil and rapeseed meal;
(4)Cotton seeds;
(5)Tomato seeds, fresh tomatoes and tomato sauce.
The following 17 products in 5 categories are included in the first group of agricultural GMOs under the labeling system:
(1) Soybean seeds, soybean, soybean flour, soybean oil, and soybean meal;
(2) Corn seeds, corn, corn oil, corn flour (including corn flour with the tax code of 11022000, 11031300 and 11042300);
(3) Rape seeds, rapeseed, rapeseed oil and rapeseed meal;
(4)Cotton seeds;
(5)Tomato seeds, fresh tomatoes and tomato sauce.
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