China approved imports of eight genetically modified (GM) crops, including GM alfalfa for the first time after a decade-long wait, the country's agriculture ministry said on Friday. Global seed makers welcomed the decision after complaining for years about Beijing's slow approval process, which delays commercialisation because they often need clearance from China, one of the world's biggest agriculture markets. The approvals are "a positive step towards resolving the longstanding challenges biotechnology developers face in obtaining import approvals in China," said the Biotechnology Innovation Organization in Washington, the world's largest trade association for biotech companies like Bayer AG. Beijing has a…