EU Clashes with U.S. Over GMO Maize Feed Imports

Fri Apr  15, 2005 08:35 AM ET 
By Jeremy Smith  
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=8194744

BRUSSELS  (Reuters) - Europe and the United States crossed swords on Friday 
after EU  experts blocked imports of U.S. maize animal feed and grains unless 
there is  proof they are free of an illegal genetically modified organism 
(GMO).  

U.S. exports of corn gluten feed and brewers grains, a by-product of  
ethanol, would have to be certified by an internationally-accredited laboratory  to 
show there is no presence of Bt-10 maize, a GMO that is not authorized in  
Europe. 

The measures will enter into force early next week and be  reviewed at the 
end of October. U.S. exporters send 3.5 million tons of corn  gluten feed to EU 
countries each year, a trade that is worth some 350 million  euros ($449 
million). 

"This is a targeted measure which is necessary to  uphold EU law, maintain 
consumer confidence and ensure that the unauthorized GMO  Bt-10 cannot enter the 
EU," EU Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner  Markos Kyprianou said. 

"Imports of maize products which are certified as  free of Bt10 will be able 
to continue, but at the same time we cannot and will  not allow a GMO which 
has not gone through our rigorous authorization procedures  to enter the EU 
market," he said. 

Last month Swiss agrochemicals group  Syngenta said some of its maize seeds 
exported to the European Union from the  United States were mistakenly 
contaminated with Bt-10. This insect-resistant  strain is similar to Bt-11, a 
different maize strain that is approved for EU  distribution. 

Green groups said the proposed measure amounted to an  effective ban on 
European imports of U.S. maize-based animal feeds for the  foreseeable future. 

"Europe now has a de facto ban on the import of many  U.S. animal feeds," 
said Adrian Bebb, GMO campaigner at Friends of the Earth  Europe. 

"Today's emergency measures will be unpopular with the U.S.  government and 
the biotechnology industry but will start to protect Europe from  more 
contaminated products," he said.