The final nail has been driven into Roundup Ready wheat’s coffin.
Little more than a month after announcing that it would defer commercialization of the controversial genetically modified wheat, Monsanto last week formally withdrew all of its applications for regulatory approval in all countries, including Canada.
“Since we have deferred commercialization there was no reason to complete the regulatory approval,” said Monsanto Canada spokesperson Trish Jordan.
The exception is the company’s submission to the United States Food and Drug Administration, which has been analyzing the food and feed safety of Roundup Ready wheat.
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Jordan said the FDA’s work is essentially complete and the company and others in the wheat industry are anxious to see the results. She expressed confidence the agency’s findings would be favourable.
“It’s important for farmers and consumers alike to understand that this was not a food and feed safety issue,” she said.
Satisfy safety concerns
An official with a major U.S. wheat exporters organization said the U.S. wheat industry supports the decision to follow through with the FDA review.
“We appreciate that FDA will complete its reviews of health aspects of Roundup Ready wheat, so that the concerns of critics can be answered,” said Alan Tracy, president of U.S. Wheat Associates.
Following Monsanto’s May 10 announcement deferring commercialization, a number of farm groups urged the company to withdraw its regulatory applications.
The Canadian Wheat Board said that was necessary to eliminate uncertainty that might be lingering in customers’ minds about the future of Roundup Ready wheat.
Board spokesperson Louise Waldman said the marketing agency welcomed the June 18 announcement.
She said the Canadian grain industry will now have time to deal with issues associated with GM crops, such as the need to establish an effective system of segregating such products in the grain handling and transportation system.
While the board fought Roundup Ready wheat, Waldman said the agency is not opposed in principle to the development of GM wheat or barley varieties, as long as their introduction is in the best interests of western Canadian farmers.
