China gives approval to GM soybeans

China's agricultural authorities issued biosafety certificates to three new overseas varieties of genetically modified soybeans on Thursday, allowing them to be imported as raw materials for domestic processing.

According to a statement from the country's biosafety committee in charge of agricultural GM organisms, the newly approved GM soybeans included CV127 from German chemical producer BASF and MON87701 and MON87701 x MON89788 from Monsanto Far East Ltd.

The three new varieties of GM soybeans, which fare better against insect attacks and herbicide, have been approved for commercial planting or consumption in many countries, it said.