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在线翻译:
szdaily -> In depth -> 
China vows zero tolerance for illegal GM rice
    2014-08-19  08:53    Shenzhen Daily

    CHINESE authorities vowed to impose a zero tolerance policy and harsh punishments for selling and growing genetically modified (GM) crops illegally in July, days after media reports exposed GM rice sales at a supermarket in central China.

    “The ministry will punish any companies and individuals who illegally grow or sell GM grains, and there will be no tolerance for these practices,” said a statement sent to Xinhua July 29 by the office in charge of GM food safety with the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA).

    China Central Television (CCTV) found GM rice, which is illegal to sell or grow commercially in China, on sale in a supermarket in Wuhan, capital of central Hubei Province, the broadcaster reported July 26.

    CCTV commissioned tests on five packs of rice picked at random from the supermarket’s shelves. Three were found to contain Bt63, an ingredient from a GM rice strain called Bt Shanyou 63.

    CCTV also found evidence that GM rice was being sold in neighboring Hunan, Anhui and Fujian provinces.

    A few days later, Wuhan’s government said that over six hectares of GM rice crops were destroyed there by July 30. Each grower was compensated about US$100 per hectare.

    The BT63 rice grown in Jiangxia District is popular among farmers because of its pest resistance. The farmers, who grew the same GM rice variety in 2010, say the seeds came from “acquaintances” who did not provide invoices.

    According to Beijing Youth Daily, Professor Zhang Qifa at Huazhong Agricultural University is suspected of getting involved in the scandal.

    Bt63 GM rice was developed and patented by Huazhong Agricultural University. It has a “GM organism safety certification” as of 2009, but has yet to receive approval for commercial production.

    Zhang, also a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was the team leader of the Bt63 GM rice project. He used to be CEO of a company called Kenier. The company has been punished by local authorities for growing unauthorized GM rice.

    Zhang said that during the trial stage of Bt63 rice, Kenier delegated other companies to produce Bt63 GM rice seeds. Some companies might have sold the seeds without Kenier’s knowledge, Zhang added.

    The Bt63 rice variety was popular among Wuhan growers because of its pest resistance.

    In May, Green Peace claimed that GM rice had been found in samples from Wuhan, and that the source of the Bt63 rice seeds was Huazhong Agricultural University.

    The university said it doesn’t recognize the report and doubts the legitimacy of the group’s test.

    (SD-Agencies)

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