Oregon Senator Wants Assurances to U.S. Trading Partners After USDA Discovers GE Wheat
The discovery of genetically engineered (GE) wheat in Oregon could put as much as $500 million in Oregon wheat exports in danger, and federal agencies should ensure the Department of Agriculture’s investigation into the GE wheat does not damage U.S. trading relationships, Oregon’s Democratic Senator, Ron Wyden, said in a May 30 letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced discovery of the GE wheat May 29, after being notified of its presence by an Oregon State University scientist. No GE wheat varieties are approved for sale, or in commercial production, in the U.S. The variety APHIS found indicates the presence of the same specific variety that agriculture biotech company Monsanto was authorized to field test in 16 states from 1998 to 2005, APHIS said (here). After the announcement about the GE wheat, the European Union said it will test all U.S. wheat imports. Japan also cancelled an order for U.S. wheat.
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In his letter, Wyden urged the USDA to coordinate with the State and Commerce Departments, and the U.S. Trade Representative, to “provide assurance and certainty to global wheat markets that Oregon growers are not producing or selling GE wheat, and to address any concerns or misinformation that may arise. The discovery of non-harvested, GE wheat should not be used by America’s trading partners to erect spurious, protectionist trade barriers or procurement practices in the absence of scientific evidence indicating that Oregon exports contain this strain of wheat.” Read the letter (here). APHIS said the GE wheat does not pose any safety concerns. "Our first priority is to as quickly as possible determine the circumstances and extend of the situation and how it happened," said Acting Deputy Administrator for APHIS Biotechnology Regulatory Services Michael Firko. "We are collaborating with state, industry, and trading partners on this situation and are committed to providing timely information about our findings."