July 15, 2005

Japan still purchasing US corn despite Bt-10 concerns

The US remained the primary source for more than 90 percent of Japan's corn supply, despite the sixth case of unapproved US Bt-10 corn discovered in imports.

Japan's annual corn imports totalled about 16 million tonnes, with most coming from the US.

After recent negotiations, maker Syngenta reportedly agreed to help pay costs incurred by some major US grain exporters and Japanese importers in testing for Bt-10.

It was relatively easier to test corn at ports around the US Gulf and incur lower expenses, than testing in the Pacific Northwest, due to different shipping methods.

Meanwhile, industry members in US and Japan have been negotiating with each other over technical issues and financial losses involved with Bt-10.

Domestic stock levels in Japan have been falling and supply slowing, because of extra time taken to conduct tests for the presence of Bt-10 corn in imports.