EU blockade of US soya beans unlikely to be lifted

THE EU’s approval of three genetically modified maize varieties is not expected to lift a blockade keeping soya beans from the US out of the EU.

EU blockade of US soya beans unlikely to be lifted

Given the uncertainty, international traders have ceased all further shipments. The banned cargoes contained dust from unapproved genetically modified maize, contamination which comes from port storage and handling systems.

Ships containing 200,000 tonnes of soya are anchored in European ports, awaiting clearance. Some will be released soon, because the contamination comes from the three latest maizes approved for use in Europe. But a spokesman for the EU’s Coceral grouping of cereal trade organisations said soya imports will not commence until GM-corn Mir 604 is approved. US soymeal exports to the EU are normally close to 500,000 tonnes. Stocks from South America are low, due to a dry growing season. EU approval for GM grains has been slow because of public concern about safety.

European meat industry groupings have written to the European Commission, warning that the soya blockade is precipitating the EU towards serious food and feed supply problems, especially for pig and poultry farmers, because there are no affordable feed protein alternatives to soya meal.

If the European feed industry cannot import soya from the US, the EU food sector will lose €4.4bn per year, according to LEI, a Dutch agricultural economic institute. It said the EU normally depends on the US for about 50% of its soya imports, and even more this year because of poor harvests in Argentina due to drought.

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