NEWS
IN THE NEWS
by BASF and Bayer CropScience, ■ European biotechnology companies ■ Italian agrochemical company WORLD
respectively. have called on the region’s regulatory Isagro’s US subsidiary, Isagro USA, has
authorities to provide greater support for launched the rice herbicide, Strada
genetically modified crops within and (orthosulfamuron). The company received
outside the EU. Regulators must fully US approval in February, which was the
implement the EU registration process first global registration for the herbicide.
for GM crops and provide coherent The product will be marketed with the
policies in this area, says the European support from the Proficol/Westrade USA
biotechnology industry association, joint venture, RiceCo.
EuropaBio.
■ Syngenta will introduce its genetically
■ France has finally transposed the EU NORTH AMERICA modified corn rootworm-resistant maize, ■ Brazil’s government is heeding pressure
genetically modified organism registration Agrisure RW, in the US this season, despite to boost the generic pesticide market. The
Directive (2001/18) into national law. objections from the National Corn Growers President’s Ministry, the Casa Civil, has
The move puts an end to a four-year Association (NCGA). The NGCA has asked promised industry more products and
delay and ongoing clashes with the Syngenta not to release the GM maize until more frequent registrations through the
European Commission and the it receives a Japanese import approval, equivalence system, says the Brazilian
European Court of Justice. to avoid “serious restrictions” on the generic agrochemical industry association,
marketability of the crop. Syngenta says the AENDA. However, the promise is not
■ Isoproturon-based herbicides are to be it is taking “every possible step” to obtain official policy and has followed pressure
phased out in the UK by June 30th 2009. approval to allow the 2007 crop to be from industry and farmers, the AENDA
Even though the active ingredient has ■ A US judge has issued a preliminary imported into Japan. stresses.
full EU approval, the UK Pesticides Safety injunction banning the sale of Monsanto’s
Directorate has decided that its continued genetically modified glyphosate-tolerant ■ Brazilian President Lula Ignacio de
use will present an “unacceptable risk to Roundup Ready alfalfa seed. The move Silva has signed legislation to cut the
aquatic life”. follows a February ruling that the USDA’s requirements for marketing genetically
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service modified seed. The national technical
■ Bayer CropScience has suspended acted illegally in failing to prepare an commission for biosafety, the CTNBio, can
the sale and supply of its combination environmental impact statement before now authorise the commercialisation of
fungicides, Elvaron Multi (iprovalicarb clearing the GM crop for commercial GM seed by a simple majority vote.
+ tolylfluanid) and Talat (fenhexamid release in 2005.
+ tolylfluanid), in the UK. The decision ■ Colombia has approved the limited
was taken after the UK Pesticides Safety ■ US rice growers have called for tighter planting of Monsanto’s genetically
Directorate informed the company of controls on research on genetically modified insect-resistant MON810 maize
possible health risks from a newly modified rice following the latest discovery and DuPont’s GM glufosinate-tolerant
characterised metabolite of the active of GM material in commercial rice seed. ■ US farmers are expected to plant 90.5 maize. Monsanto’s Roundup Ready cotton
ingredient, tolylfluanid. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health million acres (36.6 million ha) of maize and Bollgard cotton are already grown in
Inspection Service halted the planting of this year, says the USDA. If fulfilled, the the country.
■ Plans are under way to introduce BASF’s non-GM imidazolinone herbicide- maize acreage would be 15.5% greater
co-existence and related rules for tolerant Clearfield CL131 rice line, after than in 2006 and the largest area for 60 ■ The Indian Ministry of Agriculture
genetically modified crops in Denmark, discovering that it was contaminated years. The surge in plantings is being has ordered an inquiry into possible
Finland, Norway and Sweden throughout with LLRICE604, an unauthorised line of prompted by high maize prices due to irregularities in the country’s agrochemical
2007. The Nordic Council of Ministers Bayer CropScience’s glufosinate-tolerant demand from ethanol producers and registration system. The move follows
has recommended that the countries LibertyLink rice. strong exports. a settlement in February between Dow
co-operate in the development of co- Chemical and the US Securities and
existence guidelines. ■ The US EPA has issued preliminary work ■ The Canadian Pest Management Exchange Commission over allegations
plans for a further six pesticides entering Regulatory Agency has confirmed that the of improper payments by employees of
■ The Spanish agrochemical market the registration review programme. The Grower Requested Own Use programme Dow’s Indian crop protection business to
barely recovered last year after a large Agency has opened public dockets for: will be implemented by July 2007. The Indian officials.
fall in 2005. Sales rose by 2.6% to the fungicides, fenarimol and triflumizole; scheme was put forward last year to
€555.7 million (US$442.9 million), the insecticide, cyromazine; the acaricide, address price differentials between ■ Hopes that the Indian government
says the Spanish agrochemical industry clofentezine; the herbicide, fomesafen; Canada and the US, while dealing with would cut excise duty on pesticides
association, AEPLA. and the herbicide/plant growth regulator, concerns over the previous import system. have been dashed again, following the
paclobutrazol. publication of the 2007/08 budget
 May 2007  •   www.agrowmag.com
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