chinas proposed amendments to the implementation regulations on safety assessment of agricultural gmos in july 2015 paraguay raised a concern about the inclusion of some socio-economic aspects in the chinese risk assessment process for gmos contrary to article 5 of sps agreement and to the guidance of the relevant international organizations recognized by the wto. the amendments to the implementing regulations had been notified in g sps n chn 881. paraguay stated that the measures which went beyond scientific principles could lead to arbitrary or unjustified distinctions and that the inclusion of these elements could undermine the production of safe food. paraguay therefore requested china to reconsider the amendments to the regulations. the united states shared paraguays concern and stressed the importance of notification of such measures to allow trading partners to review proposed changes provide and discuss comments and see them being taken into account. the united states highlighted its concerns about the negative impact that policies related to regulatory approval procedures for biotech products could have on the ability of consumers and producers to rea the benefits of advances in technology through trade. the delays and lack of transparency in chinas current biotech approval process meant that several products were pending at various stages in the process despite the sps agreements prohibition on undue delays in approval procedures and its obligation regarding standard processing periods and for a mechanism to resolve complaints. china was seeking to remove the specific timelines governing its regulatory review process and was introducing new criteria referring to economic and social considerations. the united states had requested additional information from china in order to better understand the objectives behind the proposed changes. the united states also wished to ensure that the measures would comply with the sps agreement and requested that china delay the implementation of the revisions to allow for a substantive dialogue with its trading partners. the united states further requested that china approve the currently pending events in a timely fashion and that the proposed changes to chinas approval system not depart from the key tenets of timely predictable science-based approvals required by the sps agreement. china replied that the changes to its regulations aimed to enhance the management of safety evaluations for agricultural gmos. the draft version of these management measures had been notified on 2 june and was open to comments until 1 august 2015. china indicated that it had not received comments from the united states and paraguay but would take any comments into consideration for further modification and improvement of the measures. in october 2015 the united states again raised concerns with chinas proposed amendments to the implementation regulations on safety assessment of agricultural genetically modified organisms which amends the requirements for the safety assessment for genetically engineered products notified as g sps n chn 881 . the united states appreciated the extensive and productive bilateral meetings held with chinese authorities since the july 2015 committee meeting. the united states also welcomed chinas reaffirmation of the importance of implementing timely transparent predictable and science-based approval processes that were based on international standards as well as chinas commitment to revise and improve its regulation based on comprehensive consultations with domestic and international stakeholders and to enhance its capabilities in safety administration and safety approval of agricultural biotechnology products. the united states noted again that there were 24 products pending at various stages in chinas regulatory process including seven poised for final adoption that had been pending as long as since 2010 and requested that china approve these products in a timely and expeditious fashion. the united states thanked china for its engagement an