China might lift ban on Syngenta’s GMO corn trait MIR 162

US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that a high-ranking Chinese official said that the country had approved imports of genetically modified Agrisure Viptera corn and two varieties of biotech soybeans after years of review.

Reuters reported Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang as saying that imports of Viptera corn, known as MIR 162, had been approved by China’s Ministry of Agriculture.

Although he said he did not know the names of the soybean varieties, he added that the ministry had also approved imports of biotech soybeans developed by DuPont Pioneer and Bayer CropScience.

Vilsack said: "He just simply said the ministry of agriculture has approved these events."

Speaking about China’s review process, Vilsack added: "Their system is what it is. You get approvals sometimes, and sometimes you don’t."

Bloomberg reported officials as saying that the approval covers imports of the MIR 162 corn variety developed by Syngenta (SYT).

Managing director and founder of Shanghai JC Intelligence Li Qiang was quoted by Bloomberg as saying: "The move, if it materialises, will be a boost for China’s imports of US corn. It would also be a sign confirming the improving relationship between the two countries."

China began rejecting shipments of US grain in mid-November 2013 after finding traces of Syngenta’s Agrisure Viptera (MIR 162) seed trait mixed in other corn shipments. Syngenta first submitted MIR 162 to the Chinese for regulatory review in 2010, reported Agri-Pulse.

US exporters and farmers had lost up to an estimated $2.9bn because of the uncertain trade environment, according to a study by the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA).

Seed makers such as Syngenta and Dow AgroSciences previously complained that China’s review process hurts their ability to launch new products because it is not predictable and does not always rely on science.

Companies including Syngenta, DuPont and Bayer are waiting for official notice of the new import approvals from China, according to a letter from chief agricultural negotiator in the office of the US trade representative, Darci Vetter.