51.  Japan is set to introduce stricter screening starting in April on genetically altered food produced both at home and abroad.

52.  Johnson said Chinese officials did not give details about the rules on genetically altered foods or say when they would be made public.

53.  Officials said progress was made on areas of dispute such as the U.S. export of genetically altered foods.

54.  Opponents of genetically altered food contend the products could reduce the effectiveness of antibiotics in people and animals.

55.  Opponents of genetically altered food have long maintained the products could reduce the effectiveness of antibiotic medicines in people and animals.

56.  One proposal, favored by the United States, would require genetically altered food to be labeled if it raises some risk to health or environmental safety.

57.  Some members of the EU assembly suggested genetically altered food could be studied by a new food regulatory agency, proposed Wednesday by Commission President Jacques Santer.

58.  That is because of uncertainty over new Chinese inspection and quarantine rules and an as-yet-undisclosed new law on genetically altered foods.

59.  The European Union three years ago banned genetically altered foods, saying they could pose a risk to health and the environment.

60.  The new rules include stricter labeling and monitoring of genetically altered foods, feeds, seeds and pharmaceutical products.