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On October 25, 2024 the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) published a National Smart Agriculture Action Plan (2024-2028) (hereafter “Action Plan”).

The People's Republic of China (PRC) continues to advance its agricultural biotechnology system for commercial cultivation of domestically-developed genetically engineered (GE) food and feed crops, specifically corn and soybeans.

On December 27, 2023, China issued Guidelines to Comprehensively Promote the Development of a “Beautiful China.” The guidelines propose several goals, tasks, and reforms for building a beautiful China between 2027 and 2035.

On October 11, 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) announced the issuance of new and renewed biosafety certificates for genetically engineered (GE) events.

On October 8, 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) announced the registration of 30 genetically engineered (GE) corn and soy varieties, including 27 GE corn varieties and three GE soybean varieties.

On September 13, 2024, China's National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) released Requirements for Application Materials for Safety Evaluation of Genetically Modified Microorganisms Used in Food Processing (Trial), which allows genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs) derived products without residual of exogenous genes and GMMs to be used as new food raw materials and new varieties of food-related products in addition to food additives.

The National Standard Soil Environment Quality Risk Control Standard for Soil Contamination of Agricultural Land (Trial Edition) (GB15618-2018) was published jointly by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on June 22, 2018 and it entered into force on August 1, 2018.

The National Standard for Irrigation Water Quality (GB5084-2021) was published jointly by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China on January 20, 2021 and it entered into force on July 1, 2021.

On August 5, 2024, the National Health Commission (NHC) announced the approval of eight new food materials and additives, of which one product is derived from Genetically Modified Microorganisms (GMMs). This report provides a summary of the newly approved food materials and additives listed in the announcement.

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.

On December 29, 2023, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) submitted two major reports related to climate change to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): the Fourth National Communication on Climate Change (NC4) and the Third Biennial Update Report on Climate Change (BUR3).

On March 19, 2024, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) National Crop Variety Registration Committee (CNCVRC) published a second variety registration list for genetically modified (GM) corn and soybeans.