On October 23, 2017, Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council, signed a decree of the State Council to announce the “Decision of State Council on amending some administrative regulations” (hereinafter referred to as the “Decision”), which are hereby issued to you for effect as of the date of promulgation. The “Regulations on Administration of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms Safety” were modified in the “Decision”, of which two articles in the “Regulations on Administration of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms Safety” were deleted, and five articles were modified.

After this modification, when the units engaged in the testing of agricultural genetically modified organisms apply to the competent agricultural administrative departments of the State Council for a safety certificate of agricultural genetically modified organisms at the end of production test, it is unnecessary for them to provide the test report issued by the agricultural genetically modified organisms technology testing organizations.

In addition, when the overseas companies exporting agricultural genetically modified organisms to the People’s Republic of China used as processing raw materials apply for GMO safety certificates, it is further defined that the agricultural genetically modified organisms technology testing organizations “confirmed to be harmless to human, animal & plant, microorganism and ecological environment” shall be the “technology testing organizations entrusted by the competent agricultural administrative departments of the State Council with testing conditions and capability”. This shows that our country is stricter for the import inspection and safety evaluation of genetically modified products management.

At the same time, the competent departments for the safety of genetically modified products in our country are further clarified, and the relevant functions of the national entry-exit inspection and quarantine departments are deleted in this modification, and the Ministry of Agriculture is clearly defined to be responsible for relevant approval and management.

Foodmate reminds that the safety of genetically modified products has been a hot topic in Chinese media and public attention, and keypoints at entry-exit inspection and quarantine process of food. The supervision and evaluation for GM is further made clear at this amendment, thereby the production and export enterprises involving with GMO products shall pay attention to.