After Years of Waiting, China Approves Five GM Grains

For the first time in 18 months, China has approved five GM crops for import - a move that could result in greater overseas purchases for U.S. grains.

The approved varieties include DowDuPont’s DP4114 Qrome corn and DAS-4406-6 soybeans (Enlist E3); the SYHT0H2 soybean developed by Bayer CropScience, but which is now held by BASF; Monsanto’s MON 88302 glyphosate-tolerant canola, which has been waiting for approval for six years; and BASF’s RF3 canola.

The approvals came through just when U.S. farmers are deciding on which grain varieties to plant this coming spring, and is being seen as a goodwill gesture on the part of China as delegations from both China and the U.S. are meeting to discuss trade relations.

Five other GM crops including two GM alfalfa lines developed by Monsanto and two DowDuPont soybean varieties were not yet granted import approval.

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