Due to the detection of genetically modified ingredients, canola oil from 23 Russian refineries has been banned from import.
2026/08/20
According to Agroinvestor, Chinese regulators have imposed restrictions on supplies from certain Russian plants, threatening the stability of rapeseed oil exports to China. The Russian Oil and Fat Union reported that these facilities were shut down after Chinese customs officials detected genetically modified ingredients in their products. To avert further restrictions, Russian oilseed processors have begun partnering with agricultural companies to launch joint raw-material testing programs.
The Oilseeds Alliance notes that, despite targeted restrictions and the risk of an expanded export ban, demand from Chinese buyers has remained robust since the beginning of the year. The ultimate export trajectory will hinge on how quickly Russian authorities resume production capacity that has been shut down. “Actual supply levels will depend on the pace with which decisions are made to lift the restrictions on rapeseed oil and rapeseed meal exports imposed on certain domestic producers,” the Oilseeds Alliance commented.
This year In February, Beijing imposed phytosanitary restrictions after detecting DNA markers specific to genetically modified crops in a batch of Russian crude oil. By April, eight plants had been barred from export, including facilities located in Oryol Oblast, Novosibirsk Oblast, and the Altai Krai. According to Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor), shipments from 23 domestic plants are currently prohibited from entering China. An additional 35 plants face potential risks, as Chinese authorities may exclude them from the CIFER system—the mechanism that grants access to the Chinese market. Rosselkhoznadzor previously explained that the detected DNA marker could be linked to contamination of rapeseed by the cauliflower mosaic virus, which the testing system mistakenly identifies as evidence of genetic modification.
According to the Oilseed Alliance, the issue of false-positive results in GMO testing caused by cauliflower mosaic virus persists, and the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of the Russian Federation ( Rosselkhoznadzor stated that consultations between the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation are ongoing. Industry associations have pointed out that the illegal import of small quantities of genetically modified rapeseed from Eurasian Economic Union member states is the primary cause of the phytosanitary crisis. Once such materials enter the domestic market, they can contaminate a substantial portion of domestically produced products. “In addition to the risk of contaminating commercial rapeseed, this type of import also poses a serious threat: genetically modified seed material could be imported and subsequently used illegally within the country,” the association emphasized.
According to the Russian Oil and Fat Union, Russian oil‑extraction plants have adopted end-to-end control over genetically modified organisms—covering everything from raw material procurement to product transportation. These facilities also collaborate with farmers on joint oilseed testing programs. Meanwhile, the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) has tightened its procedures for issuing phytosanitary certificates and aligned laboratory testing methods with Chinese standards. Product certificates are now issued on a per‑container basis, significantly reducing the risk of large shipments being returned due to isolated instances of non‑compliance.
As Chinese authorities impose restrictive measures, Russia’s rapeseed oil supplies are steadily increasing. So far this year, China has imported 855,000 tonnes of rapeseed oil, worth US$985 million. Compared with the same period last year, import volume has risen by 31%, while import value has surged by 44%.
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