CHINA’S agriculture ministry said on Tuesday (Oct 17) it has approved a genetically modified (GM) herbicide-tolerant canola product for import for a five-year period.

The product is a BASF herbicide-tolerant canola with the event name MS11, the ministry said in a notice on its website.

The crop has been cleared for import for processing in China from Sep 28.

China allows the import of GM crops used in animal feed but trade partners say the process is not always based on science and is often driven by politics.

Beijing has a cautious approach to GM technology although President Xi Jinping has increasingly supported use of the technology that he has said is crucial for improving food security. REUTERS