February 22, 2006

China receives GM corn import documents from foreign firms

China's Ministry of Agriculture has received the final documents that it requires from foreign firms seeking to import GM corn, said a ministry official Tuesday.

The official at the Genetically Modified Food Safety Office did not state the possible origins of such imports.

The ministry is expected to issue the licenses sometime this year.

The process of applying for these licenses began in 2005. The agricultural ministry has since already completed their environmental safety tests, signalling it may soon grant the licenses.

China imports very little corn, being a net exporter, and all its imports are non-GM. But the country is expected to turn a net importer in 2007 with the food processing industry expanding quickly.

China imported 8.61 million tonnes of corn in 2005, more than double that in 2004.