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Tuesday October 31, 7:08 am Eastern Time
US hopes Japan will approve StarLink corn for
feed
By Jae Hur
TOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The United States, confident that a scientific review will
verify the safety of StarLink gene-spliced corn, hopes Japan will soon approve the
controversial grain for use in animal feed, a U.S. agriculture official said on Tuesday.
The United States is eager to maintain Japan as its principal corn export market by
swiftly defusing a furore over StarLink, a genetically modified variety not approved
for human use that a consumer group recently found in feed and food products in Japan.
George Pope, minister-counselor for agriculture affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, told reporters StarLink's maker,
Aventis SA of France, has already applied to Japan's Agriculture Ministry for approval of the grain for animal feed.
``We are encouraging the ministry to complete a sound science review on this application because we are convinced that
the scientific evidence is overwhelming and indisputable that StarLink corn is absolutely safe for feeding animals,'' he
said.
``We worked hard to develop the market in Japan and have a good reputation as a reliable supplier.''
The StarLink controversy, which surfaced early last week, has triggered a flurry of discussions between the United
States, the world's largest corn exporter, and Japan, the biggest importer.
Japan's Agriculture Ministry said on Friday it asked visiting U.S. officials not to export corn commingled with StarLink to
Japan even for animal feed.
Business in Japan's domestic corn market virtually ground to a halt last week and corn importers scrambled to find
alternative supplies as end-users insisted on StarLink-free grain.
Pope said the U.S. government has been in close consultation with Japan's Health and Agriculture Ministries since last
Wednesday.
``We had very useful discussions with them and we are in discussions on potential solutions, but those discussions are
ongoing,'' Pope said.
FEED OR FOOD
Pope doubted the StarLink controversy would adversely affect Japan-U.S. agricultural trade, although he could not rule
out the possibility of Japanese buyers turning their backs on U.S. corn.
StarLink has been approved by U.S. regulators for animal feed but not for human consumption, due to concerns about
potential allergic reactions.
In Japan, StarLink is not approved for either human or animal consumption.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials visited Tokyo last Friday to meet Japanese government and industry
representatives in a bid to soothe Japanese nerves. They are expected to leave for Washington on Tuesday.
Japan imports four million tonnes of corn per year for food and another 11 million to 12 million tonnes for animal feed,
mostly from the United States. Japan alone takes in some 30 percent of U.S. corn exports.
Japan's Health Ministry last Wednesday urged the United States to act swiftly to halt exports of food products
containing StarLink.
Last week's announcement by the Consumers Union of Japan that genetic tests revealed traces of StarLink in domestic
products led Kyoritsu Shokuhin, an unlisted food company, to voluntarily recall a corn meal product from store shelves.
The consumer group urged the Japanese government to suspend imports of genetically modified crops.
The StarLink issue has deepened concerns about whether the United States can comply with Japanese rules to be
implemented from next April that will set zero tolerance for imports of unapproved genetically modified farm products,
traders said. |
