By Theodora
Filis
GMO
corn and corn byproducts have become a lightning rod for controversy
these days. European traders say the latest problem is with the new
genetically modified organism (GMO) corn gluten feed – MIR162
Agrisure Viptera – from Swiss group Syngenta, approved for
cultivation in the US in 2010, but has not been approved in the EU.
Last month,
Imports of US gluten feed were held up by the European Union (EU)
because of concerns they might contain unapproved GMOs. European
trading houses are not importing corn gluten feed from the US in case
the new GMO variety appears in large volumes and the ship gets
refused permission to unload.
As of August
2011, 37 GMO crops were approved for import into the EU for either
human use or animal feed, according European biotech association
EuropaBio. In the US alone, 90 GMO crops have been approved for
markets in the US.
Many argue
corn gluten feed is contrary to the natural eating habits of animals
and pets, and nothing more than cheap filler material, and not very
digestible. As a pesticide active ingredient, corn gluten meal is
intended for residential non-food use on lawns to prevent emergence
of grassy and broad-leaved weeds, and is common in many food/feed
products and in dietary supplements for humans and animals. Corn
gluten meal is used extensively by the poultry industry as a source
of protein and xanthophyll. GPC corn gluten meal is used in poultry
rations to produce poultry products with that “healthy golden
glow” consumer’s demand.
The EU
policy on GMO crops has long been politically fraught, with a
majority of European consumers opposed to GMOs. The EU's dependence
GMO animal feed – approx. 30 million tonnes each year – has
compelled them to legalize imports of new GMO crops to secure farm
feed supplies.
With
consumer resistance strong, the EU approval process for new GMO crops
is much slower than in the US and South America, disrupting
international trade as US farmers grow, and market, new GMO crop
types which are unapproved in the EU and illegal to import.
As a
processed product traders cannot know the source of all ingredients
in corn gluten. To avoid disruptions to animal feed imports, the EU
adopted rules, in 2011, allowing tiny amounts of 0.1 percent of
unapproved GM crops in shipments often picked up in transport.
A decision
is not expected on the Syngenta corn until at least mid-2012,
allowing European purchases of the US 2012 crop, but not from the
2011 crop.