Genetic engineering is one of the most powerful 21st-century technologies,and its use is driving the new “green revolution” in agriculture.In global terms,the use of genetically modified (GM) crops has increased rapidly and steadily since the first commercialization in the United States in 1996.Although there are great potential benefits from the use of GM crops,the potential risks to the environment have been the subject of concern and debate.GM crop safety has become one of the major issues faced by governments in many countries.With over 20 years of nationwide oversight of agricultural biotechnology,China has developed a comprehensive regulatory framework for regulating environmental safety of GMOs and related products.Taking insect-resistant Bt crops as an example,the regulatory framework typically includes considerations of environmental and agronomic benefits,potential for evolution of resistance to insecticidal genes in target pests,effects on non-target organisms and other potential environmental impacts.To facilitate regulatory decision-making and guarantee the safety of GM events before commercialization,biosafety regulation from laboratory research to approval for use of a novel GM plant event is divided into five stages,namely:1) laboratory research,2) pilot testing,during which small-scale biosafety tests are conducted within a contained system or under controlled condition,3) environmental release field testing,during which medium-scale biosafety tests are conducted under natural conditions with appropriate safety control measures,4) pre-production testing,during which large-scale biosafety tests are conducted prior to application for a GMO biosafety certificate,and 5) application for biosafety certificates.During the stage of laboratory research on GMOs,appropriate measures have to be adopted for guaranteeing safety under the supervision of an agricultural GMO safety leading group affiliated to the institute or university.When the laboratory research has been completed and a GM plant event is ready to enter the risk assessment period,the developers have to apply for a permit from the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) for moving to the next stage.When applying for a permit to move risk assessments from one developmental stage to the next,the applicants have to submit required data to the MOA.When all the required safety tests after pre-production testing are finished,the developers can apply for a biosafety certificate to the GM event from the MOA.However,only insect-resistant Bt cotton and virus-resistant papaya have been widely grown in China to date.