Fwd: GMW:_Monsanto_backs_off_GM_wheat_in_2004

January 6, 2004

GMW:_Monsanto_backs_off_GM_wheat_in_2004

" GM_WATCH "

Tue, 6 Jan 2004 12:02:38 GMT

GM WATCH daily

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Monsanto delays registry of Roundup Ready wheat

National Post (Canada), January 3, 2004

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Monsanto Canada won't ask an advisory body to consider any of the company's

controversial Roundup Ready wheat varieties for registration in 2004, making it

impossible for genetically modified wheat to be introduced this year even if the

crop passes other regulatory hurdles.

Monsanto has completed the required three years of field testing for several

lines of its Roundup Ready wheat, which is engineered to withstand doses of the

herbicide Roundup. However, Monsanto does not intend to bring forward any

current lines for

recommendation at the Prairie Regional Recommending Committee on Grains' (PRRCG)

2004 annual meeting in Saskatoon next month.

The PRRCG formally meets once a year to make recommendations on which newly

developed varieties of grain the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's registration

office should approve.

Approval by the committee is one step Monsanto must eventually pass in order to

introduce the wheat. Roundup Ready wheat also still needs regulatory approval

from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Health Canada and the Pest Management

Regulatory Agency before it can be introduced commercially in Canada. Those

applications have been before the federal government for a year.

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