The number of approved varieties of major crops has been reduced from 28 to 5

On April 20, the revised draft of the seed Law, which attracted much attention, was submitted to the standing Committee of the 12th National people's Congress for deliberation for the first time. The draft comprehensively standardizes the protection of germplasm resources, improving the system and mechanism of breeding innovation, and strengthening the supervision and management of the seed industry.

Germplasm resources are the material basis of modern breeding, and once destroyed, it will cause irreparable losses to agriculture and forestry. In recent years, in some places, in the process of urban expansion, the phenomenon of random occupation of germplasm resources, protected areas or protected areas is more prominent. For this reason, the draft stipulates that the occupation of germplasm resources banks, protected areas or protected areas shall be subject to the consent of the original establishment organ. Cooperative research and utilization of germplasm resources with foreign countries shall be subject to the approval of the competent administrative department of agriculture and forestry under the State Council.

Variety approval system is an important system of variety management in China, which has played a positive role in the promotion of improved varieties in China for many years. However, at present, there are too many varieties to be approved, the approval channel is narrow, and the approval process is not standardized. To this end, the draft reduces the number of approved varieties of major crops from the current 28 to five types of rice, wheat, corn, cotton and soybeans. If a green channel for variety approval is established, and the varieties independently developed by seed enterprises that meet the statutory requirements need to be examined and approved, the test may be completed on their own in accordance with the examination and approval measures. At the same time, the establishment of a variety withdrawal system, after the examination and approval of crop varieties and forest varieties with insurmountable serious defects should not continue to operate and popularize, the original announcement department shall issue a public announcement to stop the operation and promotion.

In recent years, cash crops such as vegetables, fruit trees and flowers have become the pillar industries of agriculture and rural economy, but they have been in a state of lack of management for a long time. As the above varieties are directly related to personal health and public safety, the draft stipulates that a registration system for non-major crop varieties should be established, and the varieties listed in the registration list should apply for registration and announcement before popularization, as a basis for entering the market for operation and promotion.

In addition, in response to consumers' concerns about the safety of genetically modified products, the draft stipulates that the breeding, testing, approval and promotion of genetically modified plant varieties should be evaluated and strict safety control measures should be adopted. the administrative department of agriculture and forestry under the State Council shall strengthen follow-up supervision and promptly announce information on the examination and promotion of genetically modified plant varieties.