All genetically modified (GM) agricultural products on the government list whether locally produced or imported, are to be labeled from March 20, the Ministry of Agriculture announced on Tuesday.
Those without labels or incorrectly labeled will be banned from importation or sale on the Chinese market, the Ministry said in a new regulation.
The Ministry will publicize the list of GM agricultural products that are to labeled after discussions with other related administrations.
GM plants, animals and microbes and their products as well as seeds, fertilizers and pesticides with GM organism, must have identification on their packaging, the regulation says.
The label used to identify imported GM products will not be put into use until approved by the Ministry.
Restaurants and retailers must also inform their customers if GM products are used by showing such labeling over the counter, the regulation says.
The Ministry also released two other regulations on the mandatory assessment of the safety of GM products and the management of imported GM products.
The three regulations are supplements to the regulations on the control of GM plants, animals and microbes in agriculture published last June.
(Xinhua News Agency January 8, 2002)
