Minister: No approval given to GMO grains

Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu (center) attends a news conference of the two sessions in Beijing, March 7, 2017. [Feng Yongbin/China Daily]

China hasn't approved any planting of GMO (genetically modified organism) grains, said a top agricultural official Tuesday.

Agricultural Minister Han Changfu made the remarks during a news conference on the sidelines of the ongoing legislative and political advisory meetings.

The safety of GMO technology can be ensured, says Zhang Taolin, deputy agricultural minister, at the conference.

Many international authorities, such as WHO, the European Commission and International Council for Science, have done long-term tracking, evaluation and supervision on GMO safety. Results show that GMO products that have passed safety test and approved by governments are as safe as non-GMO products.

The government's stance on GMO is consistent and clear - bold in research, careful in popularization and strict in management, said Zhang.