Irish feed millers praised by US experts
The US Grains Council has singled out Irish feed millers along with the COCERAL grain trade association and FEFAC feed millers association for their leadership in efforts since July 2010 to clear MIR162 maize for EU import.
Although MIR162 received a favourable European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) opinion in June, official EU approval was delayed until Oct 20 by authorisation procedures.
Non-authorisation or delayed EU authorisation for genetically-modified varieties such as MIR162 are linked by the grain and feed industry here to a huge reduction in maize by-product imports, from 700,000 tonnes in 2009 to just 120,000 tonnes so far in 2012. As a result, livestock feed costs on Irish farms have increased by millions of euro, according to the feed industry.
Due to anti-GM sentiment in the EU, the number of GM varieties awaiting import approval in the EU regulatory framework rose from 15 in 2007 to 70 in mid-2012 — though there were positive EFSA opinions for 15 of those awaiting approval.
Animal feed shipments found to contain more than 0.1% of GM materials not approved in the EU are turned back.
Welcoming the MIR162 breakthrough, US Grains Council senior regional director Cary Sifferath said: “This is especially attractive in big markets like Ireland, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands. Their ability to import these high-protein feed ingredients is critical at a time of crop shortage in Europe and high prices.”
Unfortunately, summer droughts in the US depressed yields to their lowest level in 17 years, leaving maize too expensive this year for inclusion in Irish livestock rations.
However, the MIR162 decision temporarily opens the way for EU access to distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and corn gluten feed (CGF), which could bring relief to farmers hit by a nearly 100% price rise for feed protein since 2011.
