EXTRACTS: A series of unauthorized exports of genetically modified rice protein for use in animal feed, as well as GMO rice in noodles and powder sent to Europe and Japan had been found through tests, causing losses for Chinese exporters, said Ma.

"This a warning for decision makers not to allow large scale planting of GMO rice," Ma told a group of reporters.

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Chinese consumers wary of GMO food: Greenpeace
Reuters News Service, June 7 2007 http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?alias=chinese-consumers-wary-of&chanId=sa003&modsrc=reuters

BEIJING (Reuters) - Consumers in China's big cities do not welcome genetically modified (GMO) food on their table, according to a Greenpeace survey, although it also showed not many were familiar with such food.

Greenpeace International has released the survey to coincide with the end of the bi-annual meeting of China's biosafety committee, which examines the safety of genetically modified crops for large-scale production.

Among consumers surveyed in the three big cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, 65 percent would not choose GMO food and 77 percent would not buy GMO rice.

But only 11 percent of respondents had "more than rudimentary" knowledge of GMO food while 59 percent had only "heard of it," the survey showed.

"Consumers' choice is likely to determine the fate of GMO rice in the country," said Ma Tianjie of Greenpeace China.

Beijing was unlikely to approve large-scale production of GMO rice, Greenpeace officials said, particularly after the European Union raised concerns over Chinese exports of GMO-contaminated rice products.

Members of the committee reached by Reuters declined to comment on any discussions at the meeting.

A series of unauthorized exports of genetically modified rice protein for use in animal feed, as well as GMO rice in noodles and powder sent to Europe and Japan had been found through tests, causing losses for Chinese exporters, said Ma.

Six out of 458 samples of rice powder exports to Japan since September had tested positive for unauthorized GMO rice, he said.

"This a warning for decision makers not to allow large scale planting of GMO rice," Ma told a group of reporters.

Greenpeace two years ago said it had identified GMO rice being sold in markets in Wuhan, Hubei province. The plant was being test-grown at a university in Wuhan.

China does not allow imported GMO soybeans to be used in foods like tofu, but it does allow them to be crushed into cooking oil used by most Chinese.