Milling & Baking News - August 16, 2016 - 16

Business X

APHIS confirms discovery of
bioengineered wheat in Washington
WASHINGTON - The Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS) of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (U.S.D.A.) on July 29
confirmed the discovery of 22 genetically engineered (G.E.) wheat plants
growing in an unplanted agricultural
field in Washington state. The bioengineered wheat found on the Washington farm was developed by Monsanto to be resistant to the herbicide
glyphosate, also known as Roundup.
APHIS said it has taken "prompt
and thorough action" in response
to the discovery and has found "no
evidence" of bioengineered wheat in
commerce.
The bioengineered wheat is being referred to as MON 71700,

containing the CP4-EPSPS protein.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) previously evaluated
crops containing the CP4-EPSPS protein for safety through its voluntary
biotechnology consultation process.
"Due to the small number of affected plants, and based on the available information about MON 71700
and CP4-EPSPS, F.D.A. concluded
it is unlikely that the wheat would
present any safety concerns if present
in the food supply as a result of this
incident," APHIS said.
APHIS said it has worked with
the farmer to ensure that no bioengineered wheat moves into commerce.
"Out of an abundance of caution,
APHIS is testing the farmer's full

South Korea finds no unapproved wheat
in imports; Japan awaiting validation
WASHINGTON - South Korea's
Ministry of Food and Drug Safety
on Aug. 5 said it has found no unapproved bioengineered wheat from the
U.S. state of Washington. The ministry said it tested imports of wheat
and flour after receiving a G.M. wheat
testing method from the United States
on Aug. 1.
South Korea and Japan temporarily
suspended new purchases of Western
white wheat following news on July
29 that the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is investigating 22
bioengineered wheat plants found in
a field in the U.S. state of Washington
(see story above).
South Korea's Ministry of Food and
Drug Safety said it would continue to
test shipments of U.S. wheat and flour
for bioengineered traits.
On Aug. 2, U.S. Wheat Associates,
Washington, said it was informed that
Japan and South Korea were being
"cautious about some new purchases
of U.S. wheat."
U.S. Wheat said Japan's Ministry
of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) planned to temporarily
suspend new purchases of Western
white wheat (soft white and 20% club
wheat) from the U.S. Pacific Northwest until the agency is able to validate and start using a new detection
assay test provided by Monsanto and
the U.S.D.A. The bioengineered wheat
found on the Washington farm was
16 / August 16, 2016 XMilling & Baking News

developed by Monsanto to be resistant to the herbicide glyphosate, also
known as Roundup.
"There may be temporary suspension of domestic distribution of Western white that is already in-store Japan," U.S. Wheat said. "The materials
needed to create the test assay are in
Japan, and it should only take two to
three weeks for MAFF to implement
the testing. As we expect the testing
will detect no G.M. wheat, the results

X
U.S. wheat exports to Japan
and South Korea
(in million tonnes)

Japan
Korea

2013-14
2,772
1,336

2014-15
3,054
1,181

2015-16
2,501
1,093

Source: Foreign Agricultural Service,
U.S. Department of Agriculture

will end the suspension very soon after it starts testing."
When a similar finding of bioengineered wheat took place in 2013, a suspension of Western white wheat purchases was in place for two months.
Grain import officials in Japan and
South Korea have tested for the G.E.
event identified in 2013 in virtually
every load of U.S. wheat delivered
to those countries since August 2013.
The event has never been identified

wheat harvest for the presence of
any G.E. material," APHIS said. "The
farmer's harvest is complete, and it
continues to be held while U.S.D.A.
completes tests of the grain. So far
all samples continue to be negative
for any G.E. material. If any wheat
tests positive for G.E. material, the
farmer's crop will not be allowed
in commerce."
St. Louis-based Monsanto has developed a test that will identify MON
71700 in commercial grain shipments,
and the U.S.D.A. has validated the
test and its sensitivity level so that
trading partners may use the test for
wheat imports, if they choose.
There are no bioengineered wheat
varieties for sale or in commercial
production in the United States at this
time, as APHIS has not deregulated
any bioengineered wheat varieties.
The U.S.D.A. in recent years has
in more than 500 million bus of wheat
exported to Japan alone. In addition,
researchers at Washington State University have been conducting routine
phenotype screening for glyphosate
tolerance in wheat since 2013. In each
of the last three growing seasons, this
field screening process has involved
more than 80 varieties, 2,000 advanced
breeding lines and more than 35,000
individual plots.
Separately, the North American
Millers' Association on Aug. 4 issued a
statement noting food safety "is a top
priority for the entire wheat industry,
including growers, millers and manufacturers."
"We invest our resources and reputations in providing consumers with
safe, nutritious and affordable products, and we are committed to open
communication with all stakeholders in the spirit of full transparency,"
NAMA said.
NAMA noted that the prospect of
bioengineered wheat "holds great
promise" but added that "more research needs to be conducted to conclusively determine its safety and
benefits before it is a viable option for
growers, processors, manufacturers
and consumers."
The agency said it trusts the process APHIS is taking to sequester the
wheat crop and believes there is no
need for consumers to change their
food purchasing or eating habits.
"NAMA will continue to monitor
the situation, cooperate with APHIS as
appropriate and keep its stakeholders
informed," NAMA said. MBN
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Milling & Baking News - August 16, 2016

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