NEWS
IN THE NEWS
n The US Biotechnology Industry n Mexico is improving its control
Organization (BIO) has established a of an exotic mango pest, the white
new policy over international approvals mango scale (Aulacaspis tubercularis).
of genetically modified crops. The BIO’s Inspectors detected it in the western
Product Launch Stewardship Policy region of Nayarit in 1999, and it has
encourages its members to seek since spread across the state. The
regulatory approvals in major markets, Ministry of Agriculture’s biological
including the US, Canada and Japan, control unit studied the pest, finding
before commercialising a GM crop. The that its resurgence was due to poor use
policy is aimed at tackling “asynchronous” of pesticides.
authorisations in different markets, which
may disrupt trade. n Argentina has banned the sale of
two genetically modified maize lines,
REST OF WORLD following their withdrawal in the EU.
Resolution 125 prohibits the sale of
n The Australian Pesticides and GM herbicide-tolerant GA21 maize and
Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) insect-resistant Bt176 maize. The EU
has proposed changes to its registration withdrew approvals for Monsanto’s
fees to reflect the cost of assessing GA21xMON810 maize and Syngenta’s
data submitted after an evaluation has Bt176 maize in April because they were
begun. It also aims to extend statutory no longer marketed in the region.
registration times to take account of
the extra work involved in reviewing
such data.
n Monsanto has applied to the Australian
Office of the Gene Technology Regulator
(OGTR) to field test genetically modified
insect-resistant and glyphosate-tolerant
Pima/extra long staple (Gossypium
barbadense) cotton. The cotton would
be derived from conventional breeding n Four of China’s largest agrochemical
with GM Bollgard II and Roundup Ready companies are seeking direct entry into
Flex G hirsutum cotton lines, which were the Brazilian market, according to the
approved for commercial release in 2006. Mato Grosso regional soybean growers’
association, the Aprosoja. The unnamed
n Brazil lost US$2,190 million to Asian businesses, none of which export to
soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) Brazil, have applied for registrations of
in the 2006/07 season, according to the generic pesticides. They have contracted
Brazilian soybean agricultural research the Brazilian consultancy, Allier Brasil
corporation, the Embrapa Soja. Losses Consulting, to negotiate with the
to the disease were similar (US$2,120 authorities.
million) in 2005/06, when farmers made
15% fewer fungicide applications, national n The EU Commission’s Food and
media report. There were 2.3 applications/ Veterinary Office (FVO) has given
ha in the 2006/07 season. The corporation Argentina an almost clean bill of health
calculated losses from costs of fungicide for controls of EU-bound produce
use and crop damage. The losses occurred containing genetically modified material.
despite lower fungicide prices. The Its report concludes that there is a
corporation says that average fungicide “clearly defined regulatory system in
prices used against rust were 17.5% lower place for the authorisation of GMOs”.
than the US$40/ha for the 2005/06 The system is the basis for preventing
season, the business daily, Gazeta the circulation of unauthorised GMOs in
Mercantil, reports. food, feed or seed for export, it adds.
www.agrow.com  •   July 2007 
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