Japan, EU halts certain U.S. wheat imports

Japan, EU halts certain U.S. wheat imports

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

Japan and the European Union have suspended certain imports of U.S. wheat after an unlicensed strain of Monsanto’s genetically modified wheat was found in an Oregon field.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the discovery May 29th, 2013.  To date, there have been no strains of genetically modified wheat approved for U.S. agriculture.

A EU official said it would be enforcing its zero-tolerance genetically modified policy. Japanese officials said Thursday that all orders of western white wheat and feed-grade wheat from the Pacific Northwest have been cancelled until further notice.

Japan is one of the biggest buyers of U.S. wheat and imports 90 per cent of its wheat consumption (3 million metric tones) from the United States. Japan says it will wait until the U.S. Department of Agriculture releases more information from its investigation.

South Korean officials announced that while it would not be suspending wheat imports at this time, it would increase its inspections.