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Government to Toughen Rules on GMO Imports (South Korea)

A number of government agencies will collectively be in charge of monitoring the research and development of genetically-modified crops and animals, which may cause confusion and inefficiency in the regulating system.

The Ministry of Science and Technology announced Friday that the research, development, import, export and distribution of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), or living modified organisms (LMO), will require prior approval from different government agencies from Jan. 1, depending on the safety level of the materials and the type of possible hazard it has for the environment or for people.

GMOs are plants or animals that have their genes altered by genetic engineering techniques. Many global food companies, especially those based in North America, are producing and exporting GMO products, such as high-yield rice, maize and soybeans that are tolerant to herbicides. Many countries have been establishing regulations on the import and sale of the GMOs as worries of possible environmental and health damage have arisen.

The Korean government’s new reporting process looks as complicated as the gene modifying technique itself. The government separated the GMOs into four categories by hazard level, but only with vague, subjective guidelines: The level 1 and 2 facilities should be reported to the Ministry of Science and Technology, while level 3 and 4 are subjected to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, except those can “possibly damage the environment” that again belong to the science ministry.

Even if an R& D facility is approved by one administrative body, it is required to get separate permission for each crop and animal that has “high risk.” For example, GMOs used in farming or forestry should get approval from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. For ecological use, the Ministry of Environment is in charge of the GMO vetting. For maritime organisms, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries will grant permission. Meanwhile, some of the ministries are expected to be merged next year by incoming President Lee Myung-bak as they have been criticized for overlapping administrative control.

Genetically engineered crops have been thought to create economic risks that have been overlooked in the past. In the U.S. rice market in 2006, illegal varieties of genetically modified rice were found contaminating the rice supply, causing as much as $1.2 billion in damages and additional costs to the industry.

The modification of some crops to improve their resistance to herbicides is also believed to produce herbicide-resistant weeds, which has led to more herbicide use.

Source: Korea Times
By Cho Jin-seo