AQSIQ has issued more import licenses for genetically modified soybeans

Introduction: China's General Administration of quality supervision, inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) has issued more soybean import licenses to soybean crushers, paving the way for more imports of genetically modified soybeans, Chinese soybean industry insiders said Friday However, the slow progress in the issuance of licenses indicates that the AQSIQ has tried its best to control the pace of soybean imports, although it has not stopped soybean imports China's General Administration of quality supervision, inspection and Quarantine issued more import licenses for genetically modified soybeans on Wednesday, bringing the total number of import licenses issued since late December 2002 to nearly 10, according to a report from China's state grain and oil information center One vessel of soybeans is allowed to be imported per permit According to a trader who works for an international commodity trading company, the number of licenses issued may be higher, reaching 15-20 ships, but some traders think even 20 licenses are not enough If not, how can you explain that so many soybeans will be shipped to China from January to February? And oil companies generally keep their mouth shut about the number of licenses they receive WJH according to a trader at an international commodity trading company in Hong Kong, a joint venture of Wilmar, ADM and COFCO has received a license, including their January shipment A COFCO official in China confirmed that China's Quarantine Bureau has issued more import licenses for soybeans, but he did not know the exact amount The official said some joint ventures, such as Donghai grain and oil and Huanghai grain and oil, had received permits There will be no problems with imports from any soybean origin However, according to traders, the AQSIQ has slowed down the issuance of permits as China has ordered about 2.5 million tons of ships from January to February, or about 50 ships Some non joint ventures, such as China's Dalian Huanong group, have also received permits, but other crushers are still waiting Dalian Huanong officials were not contacted by this newspaper on Friday, and officials from the China Quality Inspection Bureau did not comment WJH China introduced strict genetically modified safety regulations early last year According to the regulations, before foreign genetically modified soybeans enter China, exporters must hold safety certificates, while importers must provide identification certificates and quality inspection permits The temporary safety regulations for transgenes, which expired on December 20, 2002, have been extended to September 20 this year During this period, the Chinese government will formulate permanent regulations on genetically modified imports, which traders and analysts believe will ease China's attitude towards the import of genetically modified products Source: Wenhua finance WJH