Agriculture authorities in Taiwan say they are prepared to implement controls to prevent the possible import of U.S. genetically modified (GMO) potatoes from affecting domestic growers.

The U.S. recently applied with the Health and Welfare Ministry to import GMO potatoes, with the approval process expected to be completed next year at the earliest. However, concerns are being raised about the potential health impacts of GMO food products and the adverse effects of these imports on domestic potato farmers.

The Council of Agriculture in Taiwan said it would monitor future imports and call for proper labeling of foreign GMO potatoes. If approved for import, the GMO potatoes would be used in potato chips, French fries, and other processed food products.

Su Mao-hsing, deputy director of the COA’s Agriculture and Food Agency, said local terrain was not suitable for growing potatoes and that Taiwan relied heavily on imports, with domestic producers accounting for only 30 percent of the market.

The government currently allows five types of GMO products to be imported, namely soybeans, corn, cotton, rapeseed and sugar beets.

Fang Yi-tan, chief of the Agriculture and Food Agency’s Crop Production Section, said the government had established a special committee to review the food safety of GMO products. However, she said, the COA had not been invited to review the current application.