GM seeds, not GM foods banned in Gansu city: official  

张掖：禁种只针对转基因种子 转基因产品可流通

张掖市通过出台文件明确禁止转基因作物种植的地级市，创下全国先例。有网友猜测，张掖之所以要这样做，是为了保护自己“金张掖”的招牌。对此，张掖市有关人员回应称，这项规定是出于食品安全考虑，且只针对转基因种子，转基因产品可以在张掖市流通。 [查看全文]

(ECNS) -- A ban on growing, selling or using genetically modified (GM) seeds in Zhangye, Gansu province, has put the city under the spotlight, according to a Voice of China report.

An official with the city's municipal government said that although the growing and trade of GM seeds was banned in the city, GM foods were still allowed to be sold in Zhangye.

In a document released on Oct. 25, the municipal government of Zhangye said that no organization or company can grow, trade or use GM seeds in the area, which makes it the first city in China to ban the planting of GM crops.

There are some netizens who doubt that the move has been made to preserve the brand image of Zhangye as the major corn producer in China.

The city has long promoted itself as "Golden Zhangye" for its production of corn seeds and organic products. In 2012, corn seed production in Zhangye reached 461,000 tons, accounting for one fourth of the country's total corn seed output.

"The regulation has been issued to promote the safety of agricultural products," according to an official at the agriculture department of Zhangye.

"Departments in Zhangye have reiterated that the ban only applies to the growing, using, and sale of GM seeds, rather than GM foods," said the official.