China: New and Renewed Biosafety Certificates Issued - May 2024

On May 8, 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) announced the issuance of new and renewed biosafety certificates for genetically engineered (GE) and gene-edited events. The announcement includes the first ever gene-edited wheat and corn as well as a GE corn event for domestic cultivation and processing. Also approved were four renewed and six new biosafety certificates for genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs) and 51 renewed biosafety certificates for GE cotton for domestic cultivation and processing. No new or renewed biosafety certificates for GE events for import as processing materials were issued. The validity period of new and renewed biosafety certificates is five years.