US soybean group wants China to clarify its genetically modified regulations

Lead: Washington, Jan 10 (Reuters) - China's recent efforts to clarify GM import regulations have failed to answer many of the questions facing U.S exporters, according to a U.S industry official On Monday, China announced that it would begin implementing the regulations on the import of biotech food, which were promulgated last June, from March 20 China's delay in promulgating rules and regulations led to a short-term stagnation of U.S soybean exports to China last year China is a $1 billion soybean market for American farmers and exporters Gil Griffis, Asia sales director of the American Soybean Association, based in St Louis, said there were several concerns about the new rules Griffis said, for example, that China's regulations did not explain what procedures were needed to obtain the certificates needed to ship genetically modified food to China He said it was unclear what the situation would be for genetically modified foods that had been shipped before the certificate was required but arrived in China after the regulations came into force Griffis said he was not sure whether the rules caused confusion when translated into English, or whether China intended to blur in some places "We hope to understand this document more clearly," he said We want to ensure that regulations and safety certificates do not affect US soybean exports to China " A spokesman for the U.S Department of Agriculture said she would not comment on China's new regulations because officials in Beijing are still translating them Meanwhile, Griffis said he expects U.S soybeans shipments to China to continue after the two governments reached a provisional agreement last year on the shipment of genetically modified food On Monday, U.S soybean futures rose on the back of China's genetically modified regulations Traders in Chicago are optimistic that the implementation of the new rules will mean an increase in U.S soybean exports to China (author:) share to feed Weibo share to: