Three officials who approved and conducted a controversial test of genetically modified rice on school children in Central China's Hunan province have been sacked, authorities said on Thursday.

The officials were punished for "violating relevant regulations, scientific ethics and academic integrity", according to a statement released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences and Hunan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The officials include Yin Shi'an from China CDC, Wang Yin from Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences and Hu Yuming from Hunan provincial CDC.