Bridges Trade BioRes • Volume 2 • Number 7 • 18th April 2002
China, Philippines Move Ahead on Biotech Regulation
China, Philippines move ahead on biotech regulation
China is considering its first biosafety law to regulate the country’s use and development of biotechnology, the state-run Xinhua news agency reports. According to officials of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), biosafety refers to potential negative impacts of living modified organisms in research, development, use and transboundary movement on biodiversity, the environment and human health. The law would make the use of biotechnology in agricultural production and mass production of transgenic or genetically modified foods subject to risk evaluations, the report said. Also, the law would include rules for evaluating and inspecting alien species imports, including transgenic seeds, according to Wang Dehui, director of the SEPA Department of Nature and Ecology Conservation.
It was not immediately clear, however, whether the proposed law might be linked to China’s recent biotech rules regulating the import of agricultural biotechnology products. The rules were scheduled to enter into force in March, but were temporarily waived allowing for a transition period of nine months (see BRIDGES Trade BioRes, 4 April). Soybean trade worth USD 1 billion, which had virtually ground to a hold as traders awaited temporary safety permits for their biotech products, is now expected to resume after China today began issuing the first permits just before the US’ peak export season ends. The Chinese government is also reported to have issued labels for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to domestic importers. China is the biggest buyer of the US soybean crop, which is estimated to be 70 percent bioengineered.
In related news, the Philippine government adopted guidelines to regulate the import of GMOs by 1 July 2003 (see BRIDGES Trade BioRes, 21 March 2002). Under the administrative order — approved by the President and signed by the Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor earlier this month — the government will prepare a list by 30 June 2003 of approved GM commodities allowed in the country, after which date importers of GMOs will be required to obtain a permit.
“China to draft laws on bio-safety,” XINHUA NEWS AGENCY, 8 April 2002; “China mulls first law to regulate biotech,” REUTERS, 9 April 2002; “Philippines to regulate import of GMOs,” REUTERS, 4 April 2002; “China issues temporary GMO permits, trade applauds,” REUTERS, 18 April 2002.