China to Test All Leaf Tobacco Inventories Against Genetic Modification

Source from:  STMA 09/10/2004

The State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) has recently made a decision to test all the leaf tobacco inventories in China kept in and before 1999 to find out all the genetically modified tobacco, in an effort to protect China's normal export trade of leaf tobacco. [img border=0 hspace="4" vspace="4" align="left" src=http://www.tobaccochina.com/english/picture/040813xinpinzhong02.jpg] In 1998, the STMA issued the Regulations on Managing the Research and Application of Projects of Genetic Modification of Tobacco. Since then, the tobacco industry of China has applied a system to test leaf tobacco against genetic modification, exerting effective control over the release of genetically modified tobacco seeds to field growing. However, according to results of on-the-spot inspection of export-oriented leaf tobacco to be put into inventory conducted by leaf tobacco State purchase stations in certain Chinese regions so far this year, some leaf tobacco samples have been tested positive for genetic modification. Further investigation has found out that the leaf tobacco in question was generally produced in or before 1999. The test ordered by the STMA this time will target the leaf tobacco to be supplied by the various leaf tobacco export enterprises. According to the STMA decision, relevant Chinese import-export companies may not hold talks on leaf tobacco export with suppliers whose leaf tobacco has not undergone test against genetic modification performed by China National Tobacco Import-Export Test Station, and whose supplies do not have a certificate indicating that the leaf tobacco concerned is free from genetic modification. The STMA decision provides that the management of genetic modified tobacco seeds, the release of genetic modified tobacco seeds to field growing, the processing of genetically modified leaf tobacco for cigarette production and the test of leaf tobacco and cigarette products against genetic modification in import-export trade must be strictly in compliance with the Notice of the STMA on Strengthening the Supervision and Control Over Genetically Modified Tobacco, in order that any import and export of genetically modified leaf tobacco and cigarette products will be resolutely prevented. Enditem