China clears GM rice for production
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Reuters
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Published:
2009/11/27 08:27:20 AM
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China, the world’s largest rice producer and consumer, has approved genetically-modified rice as safe, paving the way for large-scale production in 2 to 3 years, Chinese scientists said on Friday.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s Biosafety Committee has issued biosafety certificates to Bt rice, a pest-resistant genetically modified (GM) type, two committee members told Reuters.
The clearance for Bt rice, along with approval for phytase corn, which was announced last week, mark China’s first two approvals for grains, although it already permits GM papaya, cotton and tomatoes.