January 12, 2005

Brazil Seeks To Resume China Soy Trade With Documents

In an attempt to reverse a ban on its soy, Brazil's Agriculture Ministry will send China sanitary documents regarding the use of genetically modified soybeans, an official said.

Chinese quarantine officials began rejecting Brazilian soybean since January 1 after certificates stating that its GMO soybeans were safe for human consumption expired at the end of 2004, according to press reports.

"Roberto Rodrigues (the Agriculture Minister) will be sending the documents today (Tuesday). We hadn't prepared a new report for 2005 because we imagined we would have a law by now," said Odilson Ribeiro, head of the Ministry's sanitary agreements division.

Brazil will likely force a Biosafety Law through Congress, which regulates GMOs use in the world's No. 2 soybean producing country.

The documents will reaffirm that Monsanto's RoundUp Ready GMO soybeans were fit for production and consumption.

Brazilian soybean sales to China are currently minimal but will increase significantly from February as the local crop starts entering the market.

China is Brazil's main soy client.