China: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual
The Chinese government has prioritized the development of a domestic biotechnology industry and is investing heavily in basic research. Commercialization of biotech varieties has been limited to date due to concerns over public opinion and the strength of the domestic seed industry. The biosafety certificates issued to Chinese developed biotech rice and corn expired in August 2014 without MOA completing the final step needed for commercialization. Delays in import approvals have created large scale trade disruptions in corn and corn products and impacted other crops such as alfalfa. Despite these challenges, China is expected to remain a significant importer of biotech products, notably soybeans. The United States has continued to press China to adhere to a science-based policy on
biotechnology approvals.
