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US bans imports from Chinese genomics companies over forced labour concerns

The US has banned imports from three Chinese genomics companies, including BGI Group, over claims they collected genetic material to track persecuted minor Read More: https://punchng.com/us-bans-imports-from-chinese-genomics-companies-over-forced-labour-concerns/

US bans imports from Chinese genomics companies over forced labour concerns

The United States has banned imports from three Chinese genomics companies over allegations that they collected genetic data used to monitor and potentially force labor on persecuted ethnic minorities in China's Xinjiang region. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) added BGI Genomics, MGI Tech, and Shenzhen BGI Technology, also known as BGI Group, to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List.

This list identifies entities working with China's government to recruit, transport, or receive forced labor or members of persecuted groups from Xinjiang. The United Nations has previously alleged possible crimes against humanity in the region, including the detention of over a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in camps.

China vehemently denies these accusations of human rights abuses. The U.S. DHS claims the companies "helped collect genetic material used to track persecuted ethnic minorities," while Beijing condemned the ban, stating it has "no factual basis" and accusing the U.S. of using the "human rights" issue as a pretext for unilateral protectionism and bullying.

Written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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