Bangkok--Nov 1--Aziam Burson-Marsteller
The European Commission has just approved the use of Monsanto's Roundup Readyฎ Corn NK603 and its processed products as food and food ingredients under the Novel Foods Regulation. Monsanto's NK603, which is designed to be tolerant to the active ingredient in the Roundupฎ family of agricultural herbicides, is currently marketed as Roundup Ready Corn 2 in the United States.
"Monsanto welcomes the European Commission's ruling on Roundup Ready Corn 2 technology and their affirmation of the safety of Roundup Ready Corn 2 for
use in food products," said Jerry Hjelle, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for Monsanto. "This decision not only reaffirms the findings of regulatory bodies throughout the world, it also reinforces the profound benefits and potential of this technology for growers and the environment."
With this decision, the European Union (EU) authorizes the use of NK603 for human consumption. At the same time, the decision completes the necessary steps for allowing the import, processing and use of NK603 grain in animal feed in the EU, which was announced in July 2004. Today's decision will be
published in the Official Journal of the EU in the coming weeks. The European Commission's decision does not include the approval of Roundup Ready Corn 2 for cultivation in the EU, which is the subject of a separate submission under Directive 2001/18/EC.
“This decision should be a positive signal to those in the Thai agriculture and food industry who export products to Europe and are also interested in taking advantage of the benefits of biotechnology,” stated Kongtat Janchai, Government and Public Affairs Lead for Monsanto Thailand Limited.
"Today's decision is great news for the more than 200 seed companies and tens of thousands of U.S. farmers who plant biotech-enhanced corn hybrids,"
said Kerry Preete, Vice President of U.S. Crop Production for Monsanto. "We
remain hopeful that this decision is a signal that the European Community and its Member States are serious about ending the moratorium on biotech approvals."
"The European Commission's decision is a welcome step forward, although
long overdue, and supports the National Corn Growers Association's goal of
providing information about and promoting acceptance of biotechnology," said Leon Corzine, President of the National Corn Growers Association(NCGA). "Biotechnology continues to be one of NCGA's key priorities and this decision is certainly encouraging for U.S. corn growers."
In light of today's decision, growers who planted Roundup Ready Corn 2
hybrids (single trait, not stacked traits) are encouraged to check with their local grain handler regarding that facility's buying policy.
Monsanto is currently awaiting decisions on separate submissions for its corn trait technologies combined with NK603. Until these separate
submissions within the EU regulatory process are complete, growers planting
hybrids containing Roundup Ready Corn 2 with YieldGard insect-protected
technologies will need to market the grain under the Market Choices is a
registered certification mark used under license from the American Seed
Trade Association.
The Market Choices certification mark identifies those hybrids that are
fully approved for food and feed use in the United States and Japan, but are still awaiting the necessary approvals in the European Union. Growers who plant Market Choices hybrids must use appropriate markets for this grain including domestic feed use or work with grain handlers who specifically agree to accept the grain and handle it appropriately. Growers should contact their local seed dealers and grain handlers for more stewardship details.
Since Roundup Ready corn technology was first introduced in the United
States in 1998, growers have realized numerous on-farm benefits including simpler and better weed control. The Roundup Ready system also encourages the adoption of conservation tillage practices, which reduces soil erosion, improves water quality and wildlife habitat, while optimizing yields.
“Additionally, numerous studies indicate that Roundup Ready corn is as safe and as nutritious as conventional maize by analysis of key nutrients as
well as by key performance studies,” said Khun Kongtat. “Thailand remains one of the few nations in Asia that is a net exporter of food. To remain competitive in world markets, we think it is very important that Thai farmers be given the opportunity to cultivate new products, such as Roundup Ready corn, which use technologies that require less harmful chemicals and increase crop production.”
The benefits of the technology continue to serve as a primary driver for adoption. Monsanto's year-end sales data for 2004 highlight that acres
planted with Roundup Ready corn rose for a seventh consecutive season in the United States. Roundup Ready corn technology is estimated to have been planted on more than 40 million rai this season, up from 30 million rai in 2003.
Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. For more information on Monsanto, see: www.monsanto.com.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Roundup Ready, Roundup,YieldGard, Asgrow and VISTIV are registered trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. Market Choices is a registered certification mark used under license from the American Seed Trade Association.
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