NEWS
IN THE NEWS
wide range of maize pests makes these n Bayer CropScience expects its n Portugal’s agrochemical sales for states for each ai. Instead, it will be
markets a “tremendous fit” for the eight- BioScience business’ sales to almost the first half of 2007 were flat at €59.6 consulted only if the DARs raise doubts
gene SmartStax product that Monsanto treble by 2017 to around €1,000 million million ($79.2 million), compared to the that need to be resolved.
is developing with Dow AgroSciences, ($1,200 million), an average 10–12% first six months of last year. However,
said Brett Begemann, vice-president of rise each year. Much of this growth will volume sales increased by 1%. Weather
n There were fewer cases of illegal
Monsanto’s global commercial business. come from acquisitions. Bayer would not conditions in spring and early summer
pesticide residues in UK food samples
commit to how much of the business caused a rise in disease and weed
in 2006 than in previous years, the
n
would be in genetically modified plants, incidence, the Portuguese agrochemical
Bayer CropScience has dropped Pesticide Residue Committee’s annual
but believes the biotechnology market industry association, the ANIPLA, said.
a US lawsuit against Makhteshim- report indicates. The 3,562 samples
will “need to be” increasingly important.
Agan Industries (MAI) over alleged tested showed no residues in 65.2%
patent violations regarding Bayer’s n European farmers and agrochemical of samples, residues below maximum
cotton defoliant Ginstar (thidiazuron + n Strong sales increases in the Americas companies are lobbying members of residue limits (MRLs) in 33.1% and
diuron). MAI has agreed to pay Bayer and parts of Europe contributed to a 5.2% the European Parliament with warnings residues above MRLs in 1.7%.
an undisclosed amount in return for a rise in Nufarm’s revenues to Aus$1,764 that proposed changes to EU pesticide
non-exclusive sub-licence to the patents million (US$1,411 million) in the year legislation will cut product availability
n Spain needs to tighten controls on
at issue. ended July 31st 2007. This was 7% to unsustainable levels. A campaign,
pesticide residues in its food and feed,
below the company’s guidance, but was “Understand the Impact”, has been
according to the European Commission’s
n
considered “satisfactory” in light of the launched in advance of a parliamentary
Belgian chemical company Taminco Food and Veterinary Office (FVO). The
severe drought conditions that prevailed in vote on European Commission proposals
has acquired UK agrochemical FVO found that Spain’s pesticide residue
Australia for much of the 12-month period. to update the EU agrochemical
company Mandops. The acquisition control system is developing but that
registration Directive and introduce a
broadens Taminco’s crop protection further progress is required, especially
new thematic strategy on sustainable
business by expanding its plant growth EUROPE in areas of co-ordination, co-operation
pesticide use.
regulator range and providing access
n The EU agrochemical industry has
and performance of controls, the
to new adjuvant and foliar fertiliser
slammed a vote by the European
communication of results, consumer
formulations, the company said.
Parliament’s Environment Committee to
n The European Commission’s risk assessment and laboratory
ban active ingredients based on hazard
proposals to revise the EU agrochemical accreditation.
criteria. The European Crop Protection
registration Directive would fail
Association called the vote a “major
to implement the planned shorter
setback” for sound science and rational
approval times, the European Crop
decision making.
Protection Association (ECPA) warns.
ECPA regulatory affairs director Euros
Jones has questioned the desirability
n Spain’s genetically modified maize
n
of the measures for achieving shorter
Sumitomo Chemical’s US biopesticide
area has leapt by 40% this year to
processing times, as well as whether
and plant growth regulator business,
75,148 ha, according to the Ministry of
such timelines are realistic.
Valent BioSciences, has acquired
Agriculture. The planting is a record for
n The illegal use of agrochemicals
a minority interest in the US post-
Spain and of any EU country.
and violation of approval guidelines
harvest treatment specialist Pace n The European Court of Justice (ECJ)
persist in Germany, according to the
International. The deal gives the has ruled that Austria has no legal
latest annual survey by the German
companies opportunities to co-develop or scientific basis for its ban on the
federal office for consumer protection
new applications of Valent BioSciences’ cultivation of genetically modified crops.
and food safety, the BVL. The study
products in global post-harvest fruit and The ECJ upheld an original ruling that
found that “over a quarter” of controlled
vegetable markets. Austria had failed to establish adequate
distributors of pesticides offered
grounds for banning genetically
products that are no longer approved in
n
modified crops that had been approved
Stronger cereal prices, the the country.
by the European Commission.
oilseed rape area expansion and the
introduction of specialty crop products
n Monsanto has lost its case in a NORTH AMERICA
maintained BASF’s agrochemical sales n New rules have come into force
Spanish court for royalty payments on
in the first half of 2007. These factors that aim to speed up the EU review of
n Reduced sales across all product
soybeans that contain its genetically
contributed to a 0.1% increase in BASF’s existing active ingredients by reducing
categories resulted in a 7.5% decline
modified Roundup Ready glyphosate
agricultural product sales to €1,854 the European Food Safety Authority’s
in US agrochemical sales to $6,026
tolerance technology. The Madrid trade
million. Sales were also boosted by (EFSA) involvement in the process.
million, according to Phillips McDougall
court found against the company in
better seasonal conditions and an The EFSA will not now be required to
data supplied by CropLife America.
its patent infringement dispute with
increase in the biofuel crop area. evaluate draft assessment reports
Biotechnology product sales rose by
Argentine exporters.
(DARs) produced by rapporteur member
11.1% to $4,343 million, bringing the total
 November 2007  •   www.agrow.com
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