GM paddy rice to hit China market shortly: expert

Genetically modified (GM) paddy rice is expected to be available in the market in about three to five years, according to a Ministry of Agriculture think tank member. Huang Dafang, a member of the think tank on the safety of GM food, rejected suggestions by four delegates to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) that the commercialization of GM foods should be slowed down. "Our conclusion is clear. We are technically ready and have strong international competitive strength," Huang told Guangzhou Daily in Tuesday's edition. Huang said assessments from both the research center and other parties, such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, proved that GM rice is as safe as traditionally grown rice. The think tank has been studying and analyzing GM foods in China since 1999, and over 10 tons of GM rice is being tested on animals. But some experts and politicians said GM foods come with unknown risks. Cheng Enfu, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), told hexun.com Tuesday that risks are hard to be assessed, and warned that there is a possibility of gene pollution. He called for legislation to supervise the commercialization, import and sales of GM grains and materials. Yuan Longping, a Chinese agricultural scientist and educator, told the national committee of CPPCC on Friday that the government should be prudent when approving the commercialization of GM plants. "Scientists cannot fully predict what kind of mutation might result from gene modification and the possible danger to the environment and human beings," Yuan said. The impact of GM foods will not be fully known until several decades later, he noted. He said it takes "two generations of people to prove the safety of GM foods," and called on volunteers to join him to eat GM foods to prove its safety. "If there is nothing wrong with the children of these volunteers, then the food is safe," Yuan said. But Yuan also said denying GM foods without scientific evidence is not appropriate. "GM foods are unavoidable and it's the future; more efforts should be paid in the research and application of GM techniques," he said. GM plants, often produced to resist pests and insect damage, can raise output and are relatively cheaper than traditional foods, scientists said. In November, the ministry granted safety certificates to two types of GM paddy rice and one type of GM corn produced domestically, for the first time. Last Tuesday, the ministry denied speculation that they gave the green light to import GM seeds and allowed largescale domestic cultivation, China Philanthropy Times reported Tuesday.