July 18, 2007

EU ban on US corn byproducts means higher costs for Irish feed producers

Irish producers may incur up to EUR 40 million in extra costs unless the EU lift its ban on Herculex GM corn, according to the Irish grain and feed association.

Irish Grain and Feed Association Director Deirdre Webb have said Ireland should play a more active role in reversing the decision.

The EU ban meant that Irish feed companies could no longer import the corn byproducts from the US. An average 800,000 tonnes of such products were imported by Irish producers each year.

The ban meant that Irish producers would have to source for alternative feed sources at additional costs, leading to higher feed prices and lower competitiveness for Irish products.