Biotechnology policy and regulation in China

This paper refutes claims that China has in recent years fundamentally altered its stance on GMOs in response to trade, food safety and environmental biosafety concerns. It argues that instead, research investment has increased and policy makers have continued to emphasise that biotechnology will pay a key role in China’s agricultural future.The paper details China’s achievements in biotechnology research and development, and explains what policies and institutional mechanisms have facilitated Chinese breakthroughs in the field of GMOs. It also focuses on biosafety management and regulations, and discusses research capacity building and investment in China.The paper argues that while there has been a slight adjustment of GM strategies for commercialisation policy in the short run, the overall goal of China’s biotechnology development has not been altered. The growth of China’s public investment in agricultural biotechnology has actually accelerated.The paper concludes that the recent increase in emphasis on biosafety as a research priority and corresponding elaboration of more sophisticated biosafety regulations suggest that China is committed to developing biotechnology in a balanced and responsible way.Main findings of the study:agricultural biotechnology is considered by Chinese policy makers as a strategically significant tool for improving national food security, raising agricultural productivity, and creating a competitive position in international agricultural marketsfood security objectives and farmers’ current demands for specific traits and crops have been incorporated into priority settings for investments in agricultural biotechnology researchChina is targeting its GMO products, such as grain, cotton and oil crops, at the domestic marketthe emphasis on developing drought resistant and other stress tolerant GM crops also suggests that biotechnological products are not only being geared at high potential areas, but also at the needs of poorer farmersgrowth of government investment in agricultural biotechnology research has increased. However, coordination among institutions and consolidation of agricultural biotechnology programmes will be essential for China to create a stronger and more effective biotechnology research programme in the futureinvestment in biotechnology research and development is essential for China to promote its biotechnology industry. Investment in biosafety management capacity and policy implementation is also a critical factor for a health and sustainable development of this industry.[adapted from author]