Research Reports
Improving Import Management System for GM agricultural products
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AuthorHwang, Yunjae
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Publication Date2011.12.31
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Original
Since Korea's self-sufficiency rate of food is low, Korea imports considerable amount of crops. However, as cultivation of GM crops throughout the world is increasing, import of GM agricultural products is unavoidable. There is lots of concern about safety and management of imported GM agricultural products in Korea that imports all GMOs used for commercial purpose from foreign countries.
The purpose of this study is to find a way improve imported GM agricultural product management centering on GM agricultural products for which Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries takes responsibility in order to safely manage imported GM agricultural products and improve consumers' reliability on GMO management.
In chapter 2, supply state of GM agricultural products at home and abroad is examined. In chapter 3, management state of imported GM agricultural products and problems are examined. In chapter 4, management state of GM agricultural products by main countries is examined. In chapter 5, consumer awareness of GM agricultural products is surveyed. In chapter 6, a way to improve imported GM agricultural product management is drawn.
GMO is managed in accordance with “LMO law” based on "The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety". Domestic GM agricultural product management system is diversified and classified according to GMO purposes and administration institutions takes responsibility for GMO management and Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries takes responsibility for GMO for agriculture, forestry and fisheries purposes.
Management of imported GM agricultural products consists of import license, boundary inspection and domestic distribution management. Management of imported GM agricultural products in domestic distribution stage is performed through monitoring of manufacturer's management, management of GMO labeling, unintentional release of GMO to environment and illegal use. Imported GM agricultural products is managed in accordance with “LMO law” by importer, transport company and feed company in discharging·storage stage, transportation stage and processing stage. It is reported that down grain while in transit mainly causes release into environment. Post management of imported GMO is based on LMO-related law.
National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service takes responsibility for post management of GMO for agricultural purpose that passed import inspection. National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service conducts monitoring of distribution route, vehicles used to transport GM agricultural products, labeling, illegal use and unintentional release into environment. Monitoring is conducted during crop growing period at the border so that GMO can't be released into environment unintentionally. Ministry of Environment affiliated National Institute of Environmental Research conducted monitoring of release into environment other than boundary in 2009 and 2010.
Countries around the world have similar management system and procedure of imported GMO. Almost all countries conduct risk assessment, import license and boundary inspection based on "The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety". While some countries including Japan, Germany and Austria have good knowledge of release of GMO into environment and resulting influence through continuous monitoring, Korea hardly conducted detailed survey of influence of the release.
It is reported that there are many cases of unintentional distribution of GMO including release of GMO into environment around the world. Nonetheless, most countries do not think unintentional distribution leads to serious impact. However, since GMO substance that is not commercialized is found in imported agricultural products or GMO substance imported countries known as ones that do not cultivate GM crops is found in imported agricultural products, strict management of the matters is given.
Improvement to manage imported GMO agricultural products should be established based on securing of consumer confidence and preparation of long term and comprehensive strategies. Suggestions to improve imported GMO agricultural product management are as follows. ① Regular monitoring, inspection and analysis of GMO should be conducted. ② Standard for assessing influence of unintentional distribution should be established. ③ The tendency of GM agricultural products in China in which problem of illegal GMO substance is serious should be monitored. ④ Existing manuals to manage communication of GMO should be reviewed. ⑤ Risk communication should be diversified. ⑥ Handling imported GM agricultural products in actual places should be improved. ⑦ Survey of consumer awareness should be conducted on a regular basis to understand consumer awareness of GMO. ⑧ Mid & long term strategy for GMO including seed development and cultivation should be established.
Researchers: Hwang Yun-Jae, Lee Kyei-Im, Jeong Se-Mi
Research Period: 2011. 6. - 2011. 12.
E-mail address: yjhwang@krei.re.kr
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