UPDATE 3-Cautious China approves GMO alfalfa import after decade-long wait

(Adds comment, detail on domestic approvals) By Dominique Patton Jan 13 (Reuters) – China has approved the import of eight genetically modified (GMO) crops, including GMO alfalfa for the first time after a wait of more than a decade, the country’s agriculture ministry said on Friday. Global seed companies have long complained about China’s slow approval process for GM crops, which slows down commercialisation of the products globally if they are not approved by one of the world’s biggest agriculture markets. Beijing has a cautious approach to GMO technology and has not yet approved any major food crops for cultivation,…