A ban on genetically modified crops is finally set to become law amid claims that mainland diners are unwittingly being served up transgenic rice.
The issue has sparked heated debate following media reports that GM rice has already made it on to the dinner plate, but the draft law has been met with criticism that it does not go far enough.
Public opinion on the draft law, which was released by the State Council on Monday, will be sought until the end of the month.
Under the proposals, GM research, field experiments, production, sales, imports and exports of GM grain seeds would all have to adhere to 'relevant' regulations, and organisations and individuals would not be allowed to apply GM technology to major crops without official approval. Rice, wheat, and corn are considered the three major crops in China.
'This is actually the first initiative that deals with GM food legislation at the state law level,' said Fang Lifeng, food and agriculture campaigner at environmental group Greenpeace.
But he warned that the loopholes in the law needed to be closed, especially given uncertainties over GM food's impact on human beings and biological diversity.
'This law needs to clarify what 'relevant laws and regulations' can be applied to regulate GM crops,' he said. 'We urge legislators to accelerate the drafting of the Genetically Engineered Organisms Bio-safety Law and also to enhance the supervision of GM food and other products. Otherwise, this law will only be lip service.'