August 1, 2009

SmartStax corn receives Japan approval

Monsanto Company and Dow AgroSciences LLC have received full Japanese regulatory approval for importation of grain produced from SmartStax.

The food, feed and environmental safety of SmartStax corn were each reviewed and approved by the government agencies in Japan. These approvals follow US and Canadian regulatory approvals announced by the companies on July 20. With these approvals, SmartStax can be produced and planted in the US and Canada and grain can be imported to Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

Approval from Japan, the world's leading corn importing country, will ensure full market access to food and feed derived from SmartStax, which will benefit US and Canadian farmers, said Jerry Hjelle, Monsanto Vice President of Regulatory Affairs. 

According to the US Department of Agriculture/Foreign Agriculture Service, Japanimports represent 20 percent of the world's corn exports for the 2009 marketing year, or 640 million bushels.