Hainan confirms destroying GM plants found on research fields  

海南查出非法玉米棉花转基因试验作物 农业厅销毁

上周，微博上传出多家企业和科研单位在海南被查出非法种植转基因作物的消息。3月31日，海南省农业厅回应传闻称，去年年底海南省农业厅在开展农业转基因作物执法检查工作中，确实查出并依法销毁了9个玉米、棉花转基因试验作物，还有6个涉嫌样品正在进一步检验检测核实中。[查看全文]

(ECNS) -- The agriculture department of Hainan province confirmed that they found and destroyed nine types of genetically modified (GM) plants, including corn and cotton, growing in research fields.

The department said they carried out an investigation into the planting of GM crops from Dec 23 to 27 last year in Sanya city, as well as Lingshui and Ledong counties in the province.

Among 107 crop samples, 12 corn samples and three cotton samples tested positive for genetic modification, it said. They were all growing in research fields in Sanya.

Seven types of plants were destroyed under the supervision of the agriculture department and those who planted them were punished.

Six other types are under further examination, it said, and promised that if verified, those plants will also be destroyed.

Rumors spread on Sina Weibo that GM corn plants were found in Hainan. Cui Yongyuan, a political advisor and former TV anchor who is against GM food, forwarded the related posts and demanded answers from the government.