Ag Groups Urge EU to Speed Up Biotech Approvals
The European Union should move forward quickly with approvals for 13 pending soy, maize, rapeseed, cotton biotechnology products, a group of U.S. agriculture producers said in recent days. The EU has slowed processing time for biotech products, and the body…
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has halted new approvals since November 2013, said the agricultural groups in a letter. U.S. trade officials and advocates have long pressed for quicker approvals and more biotech access to the European market (see 14082502). “Timely action by the European Commission will avoid the risk of disruption to the essential supply of feedstocks needed by the EU’s livestock, poultry and feed industries, which are more than 70 percent dependent on imported protein,” said the groups (here), adding that 57 biotech products are currently at some stage in the EU vetting process. “The uncertainty and undue delays surrounding import approvals are creating unnecessary costs for producers and the agri-supply chain.” U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman will meet with European Union Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan in Washington on Feb. 19 (see 1502150005).