March 31, 2008

EU approves import of Syngenta GM corn

The EU has authorized the import of a genetically modified (GM) corn type for sale across its 27 national markets for the next 10 years, the European Commission said Friday.

The corn, known as GA21, is marketed by Swiss agrochemicals company Syngenta and will be used in food and animal feed, not for growing in Europe's fields.

Since 2004, the European Commission has approved a series of GM imports, nearly all corn, which has outraged environmental groups.

In February, EU farm ministers were unable to reach a consensus on the imports of five separate biotech products, one of which was GA21 maize.

EU approval of GA21 corn is of particular interest to grain traders in Spain, and also Portugal, since until now, the GM strain has only been permitted for import in processed form.

Spain's growing demand for grain for use in feed is mainly focused on corn. The EU's approval allows GA21 imports as grain and those shipments are expected to come into EU markets mainly from Argentina, a major GM crop grower.

Medard Schoenmaeckers, head of media relations at Syngenta International, said they welcome the EU's decision as it makes easier for grain traders in Argentina, Canada and the US to export.

GA21 corn has been engineered to provide resistance to herbicides containing glyphosate. The authorisation will only take effect once it has been published in the EU's Official Journal, likely to happen in the next few days, officials said.