Milling & Baking News - April 27, 2004 - 30

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

As biotech crops increase, E.U.
stands fast with new labeling rules

biotech foods comes at a time when several other countries have loosened their
biotech food and crop regulations.
The Philippines, for instance, recently
WASHINGTON - In a world increas- Processors Association, which urged the approved 17 biotech crops for comingly flush with bioengineered crops World Trade Organization to address the mercial use, according to that country's
and food, a new biotech labeling regu- E.U.'s new rules. "European consumers BusinessWorld publication.
lation set forth by the European Union will see such labels on food products as
That decision came on the heels of
has not garnered the most widespread 'warning labels.'
China's approval in February of final
global support.
"However, there is no safety or nutri- safety certificates for several bioengiThe E.U.'s new rule, which went into tion issue associated with the products of neered crops. The U.S. Department of
effect April 18, mandates that food
Agriculture and the Office of U.S.
products carry a biotech label if more
Trade Representative Robert B. Zoel'These new requirements establish
than 0.9% of an individual product's
lick called China's action a "signifiingredients come from biotech a serious trade barrier that will
cant development" in assuring consources.
tinued U.S. access to a vast market
keep many food products out of the
The E.U., which expands to 25
for soybeans, grain and grain-based
European market.'
countries May 1, has promoted the
products.
- John Cady, president and chief
rule as one that will allow customers
China's new permanent rules took
executive of the National Food effect last week, three weeks after
to make more informed choices. But
the rule also specifies that all biotech
Processors Association the U.S.D.A. reported that more U.S.
ingredients must be traced through
farmers than ever will plant bioengithe food processing chain.
neered crops this spring.
For U.S. food manufacturers, the new agricultural biotechnology on the market,
The U.S.D.A.'s prospective plantings
regulation appears as nothing more than and there is no scientific basis for requir- report estimated that 46% of all corn
another barrier from a continent that has ing the labeling of biotech foods."
planted by U.S. farmers will consist of
consistently made it difficult for any
Mr. Cady called the traceability re- biotech seed varieties, up from 40% in
food products containing biotech ingre- quirements "a classic case of regulatory 2003 and just 25% in 2000.
dients to reach its shelves.
overkill, putting complex and detailed
In addition, virtually all U.S. soy"These new requirements establish new requirements on food companies, beans now come from biotech seeds.
a serious trade barrier that will keep with no benefit but with added expense The U.S.D.A. estimated that 86% of U.S.
many food products out of the European for consumers."
farmers will plant bioengineered soymarket," said John Cady, president and
The E.U.'s insistence on maintaining beans in 2004, up from 81% in 2003 and
chief executive of the National Food strict guidelines and low thresholds for 54% in 2000. MBN

C.W.B. concerned bioengineered
wheat could cost market share
WINNIPEG, MAN. - Opposition to bioengineered wheat is growing, not fading,
according to the Canadian Wheat Board.
In a statement dated March 26, the C.W.B.
said that a group representing Japanese
consumer organizations recently came to
Canada to express concerns over bioengineered wheat to the Canadian government.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency currently is reviewing Monsanto's application
for food, feed and environmental safety approval of its bioengineered Roundup Ready
wheat variety.
The C.W.B. said the Japanese group
carried a petition signed by 414 Japanese

organizations and companies purported
to represent more than 1 million
people. The message of the petition was that if bioengineered
wheat were to be commercialized
in Canada, Japanese consumers
would demand that their millers
stop buying Canadian wheat. This
could close the door to 1.3 million tonnes in
annual sales of western Canadian wheat,
the C.W.B. said.
Monsanto has pledged that it will not
move into commercial sales of its bioengineered wheat variety until it can be effectively segregated from conventional wheat,

Tate & Lyle results in line with expectations
LONDON - In a routine trading update,
Tate & Lyle P.L.C. said overall results
remain in line with expectations "with
Staley performing slightly better and Amylum slightly worse." The company said
its outlook for 2005 remains unchanged.
Tate & Lyle will make its preliminary

30 / Milling & Baking News, April 27, 2004

announcement of results for the year
ended March 31 on June 3.
"The annual sweetener pricing round in
the United States is now essentially complete with outcomes within our forecast
range," the company said. "Our sugar
operations in Europe, Canada and Mexico

the C.W.B. said. But that promise did not
satisfy the Japanese representatives, who reported that their millers have said segregating bioengineered wheat would be difficult
and expensive. Unless Japanese consumers
are willing to accept bioengineered wheat,
which was not likely to happen
quickly, the millers would have to
seek out wheat supplies from countries
where such wheat is
not in commercial production, the C.W.B. cautioned.
The C.W.B. said that customers in countries that now require that a guarantee that
the wheat they are buying is not bioengineered purchase 87% of the Canadian western red spring wheat marketed by the board
on behalf of western Canadian farmers. MBN

continue to perform in line with expectations and generate strong cash flow for
the group."
Tate & Lyle said it had completed the
realignment of the sucralose agreement
with McNeil Nutritionals, including the
acquisition of the sucralose manufacturing plant and ingredients business by Tate
& Lyle. MBN

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Milling & Baking News - April 27, 2004

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