GM crop safety certificate expired without approval for GM corn crops, genetically modified rice crops

Yesterday, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences planted genetically modified experimental plots and staff members checked the pest-resistant status of transgenic insect-resistant maize.

The only genetically modified staple food crops in China, the safety certificates for two transgenic rice crops, and the safety certificate for a genetically modified corn crop, expired on August 17 this year. Yesterday, at the Wanzhuang Experimental Base of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Langfang, a researcher of the Institute of Biotechnology of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences said that the safety certificate for genetically modified corn crops was waiting for approval from the local agricultural department. The reporter also learned from various sources that Huazhong Agricultural University, which has developed GM rice, has submitted a renewal application to the Ministry of Agriculture, but after August 17, the node has still not received approval.

The safety certificate is the first step in the commercialization of genetically modified crops. After the safety certificate is obtained, the following types of certifications can be carried out, the processing certificate application business certificate and commercial planting can be carried out.

Genetically modified corn crop developer: I hope the local agricultural department will approve

A genetically modified corn crop, the safety certificates of two genetically modified rice crops, all expired on August 17, and were developed by the Institute of Biotechnology of China Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Huazhong Agricultural University respectively.

Lin Min, director of the Institute of Biotechnology at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, confirmed to the Beijing News reporter that he is actively promoting the re-application of security certificates.

Yesterday, at the Wanzhuang Experimental Base of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Langfang, the researcher of the Institute of Biotechnology of the Institute engaged in research and development of the corn said that the application for the renewal of the safety certificate started from the end of last year, but because the materials were not collected, It has not yet been submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture.

According to the Notice of the Ministry of Agriculture No. 736, which simplifies the application procedures for renewal of genetically modified organisms, the deadlines for application twice a year are March 31 and September 30, respectively, and the Ministry of Agriculture within two months of receiving the application. , make a decision to accept or reject.

According to the regulations, where the GM R&D is conducted in field trials requires the approval of the local provincial agricultural authority. For the above-mentioned GM maize crops, relevant safety assessment data published by the Ministry of Agriculture showed that it was planted in the field in Shandong Province.

The above-mentioned researchers stated that the research institute has submitted related application materials and has not been approved by the local Agriculture Department for the time being.

The reporter yesterday called the genetically modified office of the Shandong Provincial Department of Agriculture on the application for the renewal of the corn safety certificate. A staff member surnamed Tan said that in his impression, he did not issue formal acceptance documents to the Institute of Biotechnology of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. It did not reveal the reasons for non-acceptance, indicating that it needs to consult relevant leaders. As of the press release, the reporter has not been replied by Shandong Provincial Department of Agriculture.

GM rice crops "continue to actively develop according to central policy"

The reporter learned from multiple sources that the other two applications for safety certificate of genetically modified rice crops with expired safety certificates have been approved by the Hubei Provincial Department of Agriculture. All materials have been submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture, but the nodes have not been approved by August 17.

Huang Daxuan, a researcher at the Institute of Biotechnology of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and a member of the National Committee on Genetically Modified Organisms Safety, said that although the Central Government has clearly stated the spirit of “active scientific research and careful promotion” of genetically modified organisms, individual local leading cadres are affected by public opinion and are “fearful” and “causing The procedure went so slowly that it delayed the node on August 17." He said.

"Reducing industrialization will have a negative impact on upstream scientific research in the long term," said Cai Jingjing, a researcher at the Institute of Biotechnology of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. "Our research continues and we will continue to actively research and develop according to the central government policy."