Turkey suspends GM import ban

The Turkish Danistay Court for government affairs has suspended the implementation of the Agriculture Ministry's degree that bans imports of GM products.

Traders and Ministry officials were confused on when the suspension of the ban should begin. Joe O'Brien, the US Grains Council (USGC) regional director in the Middle East and Subcontinent, said some lawyers believe the suspension should start immediately while others believe it has 30 days to begin implementation.

Ports are in a chaotic state as vessels arrive because nobody knows what to do, said O'Brien.

The ports discharge DDGS and soymeal to warehouses to get rid of increasing demurrages. The feed industry is also having trouble getting import permits to buy the grain necessary to meet demand, he said.

It is believed that the Ministry will use all 30 days if it is given 30 days before implementing the court's decision.

The court's action could allow about 200,000 tonnes of DDGS and corn gluten being held in Turkish-bonded warehouses to be released and discharge any remaining shipments waiting at the ports. But the Ministry has the right to oppose the decision and request for a review by another court in the Danistay, said Rebecca Fecitt, USGC director of Biotechnology Programmes.

If the Ministry uses all 30 days, additional storage will be required, demurrage costs will continue to increase and products won't get to customers and end-users, she said.

Fecitt also noted that the regulation was suspended, not rescinded. Therefore the ban could return if the court or other authorities reverse the decision.

She also said the USGC believes the Ministry will work harder to remove a biosafety law through Parliament, something the USGC is working on with the local industry to prevent from occurring.