China says no to commercial production of GM rice
Xinhua, February 25 2007
By Xinhua - Beijing, Feb 25:

China, the world's top rice producer, has shelved proposals for commercial production of Genetically Modified (GM) rice for the fourth time since 2004, but has given the green signal for experimental cultivation of a pest-resistant version.
A national committee for safety of GM food has shelved the commercial production of GM rice in November 2006, the Beijing Times reported.
'The application was rejected because some safety-related data were missing,' said Lu Baorong, a member of the State Committee for the Safety of Agricultural Transgenic living Things.
He however revealed that permission has been given for the experimental production of a pest-resistant variety of GM rice, the last step before a security pass could be granted.
The debate on the pros and cons of GM food has been raging on for years in China, as it is the case worldwide.
A researcher with the Chinese academy of sciences, Huang Jikun said GM rice is good for the environment and farmers as it could reduce pesticide use by 80% and increase yield by 6%.
'Our tests on the safety of GM rice have been going on for six years. The GM rice has proved to be safe,' he said.
Xue Dayuansaid, an expert with the state Environmental Protection Administration, said GM rice might harm the ecosystem as the new insect-resistant gene might cause some pests to mutate and affect the whole food chain.
Many opponents also worry that long-term consumption of GM products can harm the human body.
'Genetically modified rice could cause an irreversible genetic pollution,' Ma Tianjie, a project director with the international group Greenpeace said.
Currently only the US has approved the production of GM rice for commercial purpose in restricted regions, he said.

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