Hubei disputes rice taint claim
By Li Xinran |
July 22, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
HUBEI Province's agricultural department yesterday denied an accusation by Greenpeace that its grain contained genetically modified products.
The department said it had found no transgenic rice for sale nor seen it planted in Hubei.
"We think the accusation by Greenpeace is misinformed for news speculation," the department said.
The accusation from Greenpeace appeared on Tuesday on the website of the Beijing-based Economic Observer.
According to the report, three samples acquired by Greenpeace in April from seed stores in Hubei were found to have been genetically altered to resist pests. The samples were produced by two grain processing companies in the Hubei capital of Wuhan.
Greenpeace charged that Hubei, unlike its neighboring provinces Hunan and Jiangxi, never adopted effective efforts to stop the contamination of transgenic rice after the organization informed all three several years ago that it had discovered illegal sales and plantation of the crops, the report said.
In response, the Hubei department insisted it keeps close watch on local laboratories' research on those crops and frequently tests rice products sold at local market.
The department said it has complied with state policy that transgenic rice not be licensed for commercial production nationwide. And it said it has issued no grants for seed companies, farmers or processing plants to run their businesses with the crops in question.
In April, China Newsweek reported that farmers in Hubei were planting genetically modified rice on a broad basis without government approval and despite public concern over the altered grains.
The magazine quoted a farmer who said many of his peers had been introduced to transgenic seeds by seed companies, who touted the seeds as insect-proof while making no mention of genetic modifications.
According to Greenpeace, transgenic rice was widely planted in Hubei's Xiaogan, Xianning and Jiangxia areas.
Greenpeace warned that the discovery of genetically modified rice in Hubei spelled danger for other provinces as well, because it could spread to other places.
The department said it had found no transgenic rice for sale nor seen it planted in Hubei.
"We think the accusation by Greenpeace is misinformed for news speculation," the department said.
The accusation from Greenpeace appeared on Tuesday on the website of the Beijing-based Economic Observer.
According to the report, three samples acquired by Greenpeace in April from seed stores in Hubei were found to have been genetically altered to resist pests. The samples were produced by two grain processing companies in the Hubei capital of Wuhan.
Greenpeace charged that Hubei, unlike its neighboring provinces Hunan and Jiangxi, never adopted effective efforts to stop the contamination of transgenic rice after the organization informed all three several years ago that it had discovered illegal sales and plantation of the crops, the report said.
In response, the Hubei department insisted it keeps close watch on local laboratories' research on those crops and frequently tests rice products sold at local market.
The department said it has complied with state policy that transgenic rice not be licensed for commercial production nationwide. And it said it has issued no grants for seed companies, farmers or processing plants to run their businesses with the crops in question.
In April, China Newsweek reported that farmers in Hubei were planting genetically modified rice on a broad basis without government approval and despite public concern over the altered grains.
The magazine quoted a farmer who said many of his peers had been introduced to transgenic seeds by seed companies, who touted the seeds as insect-proof while making no mention of genetic modifications.
According to Greenpeace, transgenic rice was widely planted in Hubei's Xiaogan, Xianning and Jiangxia areas.
Greenpeace warned that the discovery of genetically modified rice in Hubei spelled danger for other provinces as well, because it could spread to other places.
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