Turkey fears GM corn in US DDGS shipments

Turkey has stopped importing US corn coproducts following the heightened enforcement of existing biosafety laws that restrict genetically modified (GM) corn varieties from entering the country's grain supply.

Internal issues are the apparent cause of the new enforcement measures. One reason is that some companies inside Turkey that do not import DDGS have urged the Turkish government to increase its oversight of those that do import DDGS.

Turkey had previously approved 16 GM corn events including 13 in December 2011 and three more in February 2012. 

United States Grain Council staff and consultants in the region and in the United States are working with contacts in Turkey and at the US Embassy in Ankara to find an appropriate solution and reopen the market.