China steps up checks on U.S. soybeans after finding pesticide residue

BEIJING, Dec. 23 (Chinese media) -- China's quality

supervisor said on Tuesday that it would step up checks of soybeans from the

United States after tons of soybeans were found tainted by pesticides.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision,

Inspection and Quarantine (GAQSIQ) said the local quality watchdog in eastern

Zhejiang Province found some 57,000 tons of U.S. soybeans were mixed with

soybean seeds coated with three types of pesticides -- metalaxyl, fludioxonil

and thiamethoxam.

Such seeds are for planting and usually bear warning

colors such as red, blue or green, said the GAQSIQ.

In response, the GAQSIQ said it had issued a notice

to all local quality bureaus, ordering them to implement an early-warning system

within 90 days and step up inspections of U.S. soybeans.

The GAQSIQ also informed the United States about the

issue and required the U.S. side to intensify quality checks on soybeans

destined for China.

The GAQSIQ said it had found soybean seeds mixed in

many batches of soybeans imported from the United States, which it said

indicated there were major problems in the U.S. soybean export system.