China is anticipated to introduce new regulations this year concerning the labelling of genetically-modified (GM) crops used in food items, as reported by government-backed publication The Paper on Wednesday. The move to regulate the use of GM crops in food aligns with China’s strategic efforts to facilitate the commercial cultivation of higher-yielding GM varieties to enhance food security.
According to The Paper, the upcoming rules will transition China’s GM crop labelling approach from “qualitative labelling” to “quantitative labelling.” Under the new guidelines, manufacturers will be required to disclose if a product contains genetically-modified material exceeding 3% of the total mass.
The revised labelling requirements are set to encompass soybeans, corn, rapeseed, cottonseed, alfalfa, and papaya. Previously, mandatory labelling was enforced for products containing or derived from GM crops without specifying a threshold.
“The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has underscored that GM product labelling aims to safeguard consumers’ rights to information and choice,” stated the report. It emphasized that GM products approved for marketing have undergone safety assessments, obtained safety licenses, and pose no safety concerns.
China predominantly imports GM crops like corn and soybeans for animal feed purposes while cultivating non-GM varieties for human consumption. Given consumer apprehensions regarding the safety of GM food crops, the shift towards quantitative labelling seeks to enhance transparency and empower consumers with informed choices.
In a related development, the agriculture ministry recently expanded its roster of approved GM crops for cultivation to include 27 corn and three soybean varieties, signaling China’s continued efforts to leverage biotechnology for agricultural productivity and sustainability.
The forthcoming regulations on GM crop labelling reflect China’s evolving stance on biotechnology in agriculture and its commitment to balancing food security imperatives with consumer preferences and safety considerations.