July 17, 2007

Argentina lifts ban on GA21 corn; exports won't go to EU

Argentina has suspended a ban on the GA21 transgenic corn trait, thus allowing its use in the 2007/08 season, according to a resolution published in the government's Official Bulletin Monday (July 16).

At the end of May, the government prohibited growing the variety after Spain rejected a shipment of Argentine corn. The GA21 trait, which is resistant to the herbicide glyphosate, isn't approved for human consumption in the European Union.

However, farmers who use the GA21 seeds will have to make sworn statements that the corn will be used domestically or exported to regions where the trait is approved. Growers will have to notify storage facilities, exporters and processors of the presence of the trait before delivering the corn, according to the resolution.

Syngenta AG obtained approval for the transgenic seed in 2005, but hasn't yet sold the seeds in Argentina, Syngenta spokesman Medard Schoenmaeckers said recently. However, two local companies also obtained licenses for the variety and have been commercializing the seeds in Argentina.