Hainan confirms destroying GM plants found on research fields  

Screenshot of Cui's posts on Sina Weibo.

(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.