NCGA
Concerned Over Implementation of EU Regulations (4-16-04)
The National Corn
Growers Association (NCGA) is bracing for the April 18 implementation
of two European Union (EU) regulations mandating the labeling and
traceability of products derived from biotechnology. The regulations
will have far-reaching impacts on U.S. agriculture and food exports,
according to NCGA.
“NCGA is very concerned
about the new regulations and their ultimate impact on corn producers
across the country,” stated Helen Inman, chair of NCGA’s
Biotechnology Working Group. “The new regulations are yet another
example of the EU ignoring sound science and discriminating against
products produced using biotechnology.”
The regulations call for
a threshold for adventitious contamination of 0.9 percent for approved
genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and 0.5 percent for unapproved
GMOs. Labeling and traceability will be required whether or not the
target protein is detectable in the end product.
“Corn growers already
suffer annual losses of $250 million from the EU’s moratorium
on new biotech products,” Inman said. “The European Union
needs to adopt a science-based regulatory system that will promote
rather than hinder agriculture trade between our two markets. We will
continue to monitor how the EU implements the regulations and take
whatever actions are necessary to ensure fairness and stability in
the international marketplace.”
Late last year, NCGA and
nearly two dozen U.S. agriculture and business organizations called
on the Bush administration to challenge the new regulations in the
World Trade Organization (WTO). In a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative,
the groups argued that the new rules “clearly violate”
the European Union’s obligations under the WTO Agreements on
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and Technical Barriers to Trade.
“We anticipate the
cost of the new regulations to the industry could be significant,
not only as they impact trade in Europe but worldwide,” said
Inman. “We must work toward reasonable policies for the use
of biotech products.”
Growers can review
information on biotechnology and NCGA’s position by visiting
www.ncga.com.