Agricultural experts and the public are calling on authorities to accelerate progress on information disclosure about genetically modified food as the expiration date of biosafety certificates for two strains of GM rice approaches.

Questions from the public over the safety of GM food have grown in China since the Ministry of Agriculture issued biosafety certificates for two strains of pest-resistant GM rice in 2009.

The strains still need registration and production trials, which will take three to five years, before commercial planting can begin, according to the ministry.