USDA says Monsanto GM wheat is not targeted

18 March 2003 21:03  [Source: ICIS news]

WASHINGTON (CNI)--The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said Tuesday it does not plan to impose a new regulatory regime on Monsanto's genetically modified (GM) wheat.

David Shipman, deputy administrator for the USDA’s Federal Grain Inspection Service, said recent news reports saying Monsanto's new GM wheat product faces a host of new USDA biotech restrictions were incorrect.

Instead, said Shipman, USDA may require that Monsanto take several administrative steps to assure USDA that its "Roundup Ready" GM wheat product is not being produced or sold in the US.

He said that with continued assurances from Monsanto that it will not produce or sell GM wheat in the US until the product has cleared other regulatory milestones and is ready for commercialisation in about two years, USDA will continue to certify that no GM wheat is produced in the US.

He said Monsanto as well as wheat growers and brokers want USDA to continue the "no GM wheat" declarations in the interest of maintaining a stable global wheat market.

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