April 12, 2010
EU faces feed shortages over GM crop issue
The EU encounters renewed disruption to animal feed supplies this year unless policymakers find a rapid solution to traces of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) found in soy imports, according to an EU industry group.
Last autumn, imports of soy from the US came to a near standstill because of the EU's zero-tolerance rule on shipments containing tiny traces of GMOs not yet approved in the bloc.
"This spring new GMvarieties will be commercially sown in North and South America which are unlikely to be approved in the EU by October," said Klaus-Dieter Schumacher, head of markets at Europe's grain trade association Coceral.
The EU has been urged to develop solution soon as this could lead to a similar situation as last autumn, according to Schumacher.