Only GM food on Chinese market is papaya

(ECNS) -- China is one of the major countries planting genetically modified (GM) crops, but only the papaya is on the market as edible GM farm products (processed products not included), people.cn said, citing Chen Xiwen, office director of China's Central Rural Work Leading Group.

Chen said the rumor that some tomatoes, chilis, and vegetables on the market were genetically modified was untrue, and the major GM crop in China was cotton.

Currently, research on transgenic breeding is mainly aimed at enhancing crops' resistance to pests to cut the use of pesticides and protect the environment, according to Chen.

Whether GM foods should be on the market has sparked an enormous controversy in China, as well as outside China.

Chen said it's natural that people hold different views on GM food, but China must keep up with the world on transgenic breeding research, as it is a cutting-edge technology in the life sciences.

However, GM products cannot be authorized to go on the market until they are proved to produce no side effects, and consumers have a right to know whether products they buy are genetically modified, Chen added.