BGI points to U.S. rival Illumina’s Xinjiang business after sanctions, GenomeWeb reports

NEW YORK — Chinese genomics company BGI has drawn attention to U.S. rival Illumina’s business in Xinjiang after Washington imposed forced-labor-related restrictions on three BGI-linked companies, GenomeWeb reported on November 5.

Chinese government contracts and bidding documents show Illumina DNA sequencing equipment operating in public infectious-disease laboratories and hospitals in Xinjiang, according to GenomeWeb. The records do not establish whether the equipment was used for surveillance or other human rights abuses.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security added BGI Genomics, MGI Tech and Shenzhen BGI Technology to its Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List on Oct. 29, saying it had reasonable cause to believe the companies conducted genetic testing in Xinjiang for or alongside the regional government that facilitated the transfer of forced labor or members of persecuted groups. BGI denied wrongdoing. Illumina was not among the companies added.