July 30, 2010

Monsanto corn technologies receive regulatory approval from EU

Monsanto has welcomed the EU authorisation of two of its corn technology combinations, Genuity VT Double PRO (MON 89034 X NK603) and YieldGard VT Triple (MON 88017 X MON810).

The decisions cover the import, processing and food and feed use of grain and processed products. The final step in the approval process is publication of the decision by the European Commission.

"We welcome the Commission's decision to follow the independent scientific advice of the European Food Safety Authority," noted Jerry Hjelle, Global Regulatory Lead. "Farmers use these and other technologies to help improve the productivity of their farms and raise grain in a more sustainable way that uses fewer pesticides. These authorisations will also enable shipment of grain and its derivatives from these products for use as feed ingredients by European livestock industry."

Import approvals for both products have already been obtained in all key countries that import corn from the US.

YieldGard VT Triple technology has been very popular with US farmers and is widely used to help control insects that feed on corn plants above and below ground. The technology is estimated to be on nearly 30% of the corn acres in the US this year.

Genuity VT Double PRO was recently introduced in the US and is currently under review for cultivation approval in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam.