February 24, 2004

American Soy Group Praises China For GMO Ruling
 
The American Soybean Association praised the Chinese government Monday for issuing "a final safety certificate for the importation" of Roundup Ready biotech soybeans.
 
Up until now, U.S. soybean and soy-product exporters have had to rely on China issuing a series of temporary measures that allowed trade of biotech soybeans to continue, according to the ASA, a U.S. group that represents soybean producers here.
 
The Monsanto Co.'s Roundup Ready soybeans were the only biotech variety produced last year in the U.S., accounting for about 85% of all soybeans produced in the U.S., according to the U.S. group.
 
ASA President Ron Heck said, "At times, U.S. soybean exports have faced issues such as trade restrictions, import permit delays, confusion over biotechnology regulations and problems with transparency. This hurt U.S. soybean producers, and made life difficult for major buyers of U.S. soybeans in China who need to be able to operate knowing that they have a free and unencumbered flow of soybeans from the United States."
 
The ASA said, "In 2003, U.S. soybean exports to China totaled 10.9 million metric tons (400 million bushels) worth $2.8 billion. This represented more than 35% of all U.S. soy exports and more than 40% of China's import requirements."