Author : Zhangliang Chen

Summary : This paper discusses the experience in research and development, field release and commercialization of agricultural biotechnology products in China. China started R&D in transgenic crops in 1983 and initiated field testing in 1989. In 1996, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) established the Office of Genetic Engineering Safety Administration (OGESA) to regulate field testing, environmental release and commercialization of transgenic organisms. Since 1997, transgenic crops have been planted on commercial scale in China starting with Bt cotton of Monsanto and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science (CAAS) which now approaches 400,000 hectares in the year 2000. Other commercialized transgenic crops include virus resistant and self-life altered tomato, virus resistant sweet pepper and flower color-altered petunia. Field test of several transgenic major crops such as rice, potato, soybean, tomato, sweet pepper and tobacco for various traits are ongoing. Biosafety tests conducted according to standard procedures showed the biosafety to environment and food safetiness of transgenic crops. Due to external, mostly European pressures, approval of licences to commercialize other crops has been suspended since 1999.