Biotech Updates

Implications of Asynchronous GM Crops Approval for International Trade

July 17, 2009

The asynchronous approval of genetically modified (GM) crops whereby different countries have different authorization procedures and new GM crops do not get simultaneously approved worldwide, poses a problem. It impacts on international trade particularly for countries that have a "zero tolerance" policy or which rejects imports that contain only traces of GMOS. The publication on The global pipeline of new GM crops: implications of asynchronous approval for international trade published by the Joint Research Centre gives this assessment.

Authors Alexander Stein and Emilio Rodriquez-Cerezo state that exporters may decide to deal only with preferred buyers. In addition, the price of the commodity will increase due to risk of rejection. Business activities in the European Union that are dependent on cheap agricultural imports will be affected.

For the abstract visit http://ipts.jrc.ec.europa.eu/publications/pub.cfm?id=2420