China’s GM caution is understandable

By: Chen Niu

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<h1>China’s GM caution is understandable</h1>
<h4>By: Chen Niu</h4>
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<p>In a recent feature article, Ding Yimin and Jeffery Mervis note that some observers see China’s cautious regulations on genetically modified (GM) crops as aimed at banning foreign investments and protecting local research-based industries (see <A href="/Features/index.cfm?fuseaction=readfeatures&itemid=96&language=1">What’s behind China’s GM caution?</A>).<BR><BR>In this letter to <em>Science</em>, Chen Niu of Beijing Forestry University argues that while tighter rules are an obstacle, the restrictions are not being used to ban foreign investments and protect Chinese industry.<BR><BR>Chen states that it is “quite understandable that China is being cautious” and believes that with more evidence of the safety of GM, China will lift some of its rules.<BR><BR><a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/299/5609/1013b?ijkey=o66dYjZmbEpfU&keytype=ref&siteid=sci" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/tracking/external/'+this.href);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Link to full letter to <em>Science</em></A> <BR><BR>Reference: Science 299, 1013 (2003)</p>

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<p>This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.scidev.net" target="_blank">SciDev.Net</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.scidev.net/global/opinions/chinas-gm-caution-is-understandable/" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
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In a recent feature article, Ding Yimin and Jeffery Mervis note that some observers see China’s cautious regulations on genetically modified (GM) crops as aimed at banning foreign investments and protecting local research-based industries (see What’s behind China’s GM caution?).

In this letter to Science, Chen Niu of Beijing Forestry University argues that while tighter rules are an obstacle, the restrictions are not being used to ban foreign investments and protect Chinese industry.

Chen states that it is “quite understandable that China is being cautious” and believes that with more evidence of the safety of GM, China will lift some of its rules.

Link to full letter to Science

Reference: Science 299, 1013 (2003)