 |
| Members of
the NCGA Biotechnology Working Group discuss new European Union
import rules Tueday at the Traceability and Labeling Conference
in Washington, D.C. From left are Michael Geske, Missouri Corn
Growers Association; Jim Zimmerman, Wisconsin Corn Growers Association;
and Jerry Ploehn, Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council. |
Corn
Growers Examine EU Rules at NCGA Traceability and Labeling Conference
(3-18-04)
Farmers, food
industry representatives and others attending Tuesday’s National
Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Traceability and Labeling Conference
in Washington, D.C., raised serious concerns about the impact of new
European Union (EU) requirements on U.S. agriculture exports.
Complex EU regulations,
scheduled to take effect in mid-April, which will significantly change
requirements for the sale, labeling and approval of U.S. food and
feed produced using biotechnology were discussed by the EU food safety
agency, U.S. government officials, industry experts and agriculture
and food associations. Conference attendees received important information
regarding the potential costs associated with the regulations and
expected obstacles in the implementation process.
“Our goal was a better
understanding of these newest regulations,” said Helen Inman,
chair of NCGA’s Biotechnology Working Group. “Hearing
the differing interpretations of these complex regulations made this
a very productive event. Differences of opinion were evident, and
they are helping us identify steps that the U.S. government and industry
must take to help assure no disruptions in the international trade
of grain and oilseeds.”
The all-day session presented
the varying perspectives of EU food safety and farm group representatives,
U.S. government agencies, food industry, grain handling industry and
agricultural producers. All sectors are carefully reviewing the regulations
and the implementation requirements. Differing opinions give by the
panel participants clarified that there are many questions regarding
how the regulations will be implemented. Many of these questions will
have an impact on our ability to ship commodities to the EU.
NCGA President Dee Vaughan
said: “Corn growers and others in attendance gained valuable
information regarding how the rules will impact marketing in the feed
and food production chain. The consensus from growers and government
representatives in attendance was that the conference was a success
in communicating the U.S. growers’ concern to the European Union
officials that attended.”
Vaughan noted corn growers
attending the conference also learned that, while it is not often
reported in the media, corn farmers in some European countries want
to utilize biotech products and understand their benefits.
Last fall, 20 agriculture
and agri-business groups, including the National Corn Growers Association,
signed a letter urging the United States Trade Representative to take
action against the new EU rules.