EU imposes certification on imports of US corn animal feed products

Fears that US corn are contaminated with the unauthorised Bt10 GMO variety have led the EU to impose drastic controls on US imports of two animal feeds.

US exports of gluten feed and brewers grain fodder will be systematically checked at EU borders for fear that they may be contaminated with Bt10 GMOs, the Commission has announced on 15 April. Green campaigners have hailed the decision as a de facto ban.

The emergency measures were decided after EU member states gave their approval to a Commission proposal to allow the feeds into Europe only if accompanied by certification that it does not contain Bt10. 

“We cannot and will not allow a GMO which has not gone through our rigorous authorisation procedures to enter the EU market,” said EU Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou.

The US mission to the EU described the measures as “an over-reaction”. “U.S. regulatory authorities have determined there are no hazards to health, safety or the environment related to Bt-10.  There is no reason to expect any negative impact from the small amounts of Bt-10 corn that may have entered the EU,” it said in a statement.

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EU considers ban on US GM imports

A decision to block imports of US animal fodder into the EU could be taken on 15 April after it was revealed that Syngenta had mistakenly sold tonnes of unauthorised GM maize Bt-10 to the US.