Subject:

Approval to Labeling of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms

Handling approach:

Examination and approval  

Contents to be examined:

1. Characteristics of the GMO  

2. Content of label

3. Labeling position

4. Information on entry of the GMO

Legal basis:

1. Regulations on Administration of Agricultural GMO Safety  

2. Administrative Measures for Agricultural GMO Labeling (promulgated by Decree No. 10 of the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) in 2002 and revised by Decree No. 38 of MOA in 2004)

3. Announcement No. 349 of MOA (issued in 2004)

Requirements:

1. The applicant shall be a company from the Chinese mainland.

2. Documents required:

① Application Form for Examination and Recognition of Agricultural GMO Labeling  

② Label model or other descriptive document

③ Labeling description (such as label size, scale, color, position on the product packaging, firmness, adhesiveness)

④ Instructions on label use during transportation

⑤Agricultural GMO Safety Certificate [Import] for traders from outside the Chinese mainland issued by MOA and related approval documents (photocopy)

⑥ Other related approval documents (such as variety identification certificate, pesticide registration certificate, fertilizer registration certificate, new veterinary drug certificate as well as production license and business license, all photocopies)

⑦ The applicant shall submit the Feedback From on Imported Agricultural GMOs to MOA within 30 days after applying for inspection and return the unused import labels to MOA within 30 days beyond the period of validity.

Procedures:

1. Acceptance of application documents. The General Office for Administrative Examination and Approval of MOA accepts and preliminarily examines the Application Form for Examination and Recognition of Agricultural GMO Labeling and related documents submitted by the applicant.

2. Project examination. The Office for Agricultural GMO Safety of MOA examines the application documents according to related national regulations.

3. Reply. The Office for Agricultural GMO Safety makes a proposal according to the examination findings, submits it to the minister for final examination and then gives a written reply to the applicant.

Promised time limit: 20 workdays

Charge: Free of charge