The study of the impact of genetically modified soybean imports on China's food safety management

With the widespread application of genetically modified technology, the proportion of genetically modified crops in the food sector has gradually increased. Of all of China's imported crops, genetically modified soybeans account for more than 75%. However, the safety issue associated with daily consumption, the contamination issue related to planting, as well as the attendant scientific and ethical issues have posed new challenges to the regulatory system of food safety of China. By examining the judicial and administrative management cases concerned, this author finds that the power to exercise effective safety control in regard to Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) rests with the low tier of government under the current system. In addition, the managerial measures are not well defined and targeted. The rules and regulations of China apparently fall short of the standards required of by international treaties. As a result, it is imperative for the higher tier of government to be empowered to handle the management of GMO and fine-tune the management and make some useful improvements. It is also necessary for Chinese authorities to devise a targeted system and make Chinese rules and regulations move closer to international treaties.