March 18, 2008

EU may soon approve imports of GM corn for poultry feed

The EU could soon approve imports of a GM corn known as GA21, which would help livestock farmers to secure more supply of raw materials for animal feed.

The anticipated approval comes after farm ministers fell short of a consensus agreement at a meeting in February to allow imports of five GM products, one of which was GA21. EU law allows rubberstamp GM authorisations when ministers are unable to reach an agreement after a certain time, and the February meeting's result would have lay the first stone for default approval by legal rubberstamp.

EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel had expressed her surprise that GA21 not approved at the February meeting, as it would have helped the livestock sector to secure South American feed material imports at reasonable prices.

The EU approval will interest grain traders in Spain and Portugal, since the modified strain may only be imported in processed form.

Animal feed producers and livestock farmers have complained that they were unable to pass soaring costs of grain to the retail consumers, and the financial weight gets heavier due to increased freight charges.

The GA21 corn, which is marketed by Swiss agrochemicals company Syngenta, is intended for use in food and animal feed, not for growing. It is also insect-resistant, which makes it an interest to European grain traders.

If GA21 is authorised, imports are likely to come mainly from Argentina, a major GM crop grower.