6-Regulation: US soybean group seeks clarity in China GMO rules

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TITLE:  US soybean group seeks clarity in China GMO rules
SOURCE: Reuters, by Richard Cowan
DATE:   January 11, 2002

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US soybean group seeks clarity in China GMO rules

WASHINGTON - China's latest attempt at clarifying rules for the import of 
genetically modified foods has failed to answer many questions U.S. 
exporters have, according to a U.S. industry official. On Monday, China 
announced that, on March 20, it will begin enforcing a law passed last June 
governing the import of biotech foods. The delay in publishing the 
regulations led to a temporary disruption last year in U.S. soybean sales 
to China, a $1 billion market for American farmers and exporters. 
Approximately 70 percent of U.S.-grown soybeans are genetically modified.

Gil Griffis, director of Asian sales for the American Soybean Association, 
headquartered in St. Louis, said the new regulations raise several "points 
of concern." For example, Griffis said the Chinese regulations do not 
appear to adequately explain the process for applying for certificates that 
will be required for shipping GMO foods to China. He also said it was 
unclear what would happen to GMO foods that arrive in China after all the 
regulations go into effect but are shipped before the certificates are 
required.

Griffis said he wasn't certain whether the confusion was related to 
problems in translating China's rules into English or whether China was 
intentionally vague on some points. "This is a document we are trying to 
understand better. We want to ensure the regulations and safety 
certificates do nothing to impede export of our soybeans from the United 
States, Griffis said.

A U.S. Agriculture Department spokeswoman said she could not comment on 
China's new regulations, saying USDA officials in Beijing were still 
working on their version of a translation. In the meantime, Griffis said he 
expected U.S. soybean shipments to China to be uninterrupted after the two 
governments late last year agreed to an interim arrangement on GMO food 
shipments. On Monday, U.S. soybean futures prices rose on the news that 
China had unveiled its GMO import regulations. Traders in Chicago expressed 
optimism the new rules would translate into increased Chinese business.



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