China applies Genetic Modification (GM) technology in a safe way, an official with the State Forestry Administration said Monday.

Zhuo Rongsheng, director of the Wildlife Department with the State Forestry Administration, said at a press conference that China has attached great importance to research on GM technology and conducted studies on genetically modified timber and flowers.

Zhuo said all the studies were carried out in strict accordance with biological safety requirements and the research findings are used to cultivate genetically modified timber and flowers instead of producing food.

"In the meantime, the research findings go through ecological safety tests, so they are absolutely reliable," Zhuo added.

Genetic modification is the deliberate, controlled manipulation of the genes in an organism with the intent of making that organism meet certain requirements. To date, most of the effort in genetic modification has been focused on agriculture.

The technology, however, has engendered heated controversy since the first

genetically modified product came out in 1983. Some argue that these products pose threats to people's health and destroy biological diversity.

Zhuo said that in the coming five years, China will carry out abiological technology innovation program aiming to cultivate improved species and try to minimize the impact they have on crude forests.

(Xinhua News Agency February 28, 2006)