Monsanto, Dow AgroSciences Receive Japanese Regulatory Approval To Import Grain
Published:31-July-2009
By Staff Reporter
SmartStax corn were reviewed and approved by the government agencies in Japan
Monsanto Company and Dow AgroSciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, has announced that they have received full Japanese regulatory approval for importation of grain produced from SmartStax.
Reportedly, the food, feed and environmental safety of SmartStax corn were each reviewed and approved by the government agencies in Japan. With these approvals, SmartStax can be produced and planted in the US and Canada and grain can be imported to Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
Jerry Hjelle, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Monsanto, said: "The breakthrough of SmartStax is the field performance achieved by combining these already established and globally approved traits. Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences teams are working closely to obtain the few remaining import approvals ahead of the 2010 launch.
"As the world's leading corn importing country, Japanese approval is a significant milestone to ensure full market access to food and feed derived from SmartStax that will help U.S. and Canadian corn farmers to experience the benefits of the agriculture industry's most advanced, all-in-one corn trait platform. Farmers who plant SmartStax will be better able to meet the growing global demand for grain through the increased whole-farm corn yield advantage SmartStax provides."
Brad Shurdut, Global Biotech Regulatory and Government Affairs Leader for Dow AgroSciences, said: "These timely Japanese approvals are important; Japan is a valued importer of US and Canadian corn, and SmartStax adds to our effort to provide a sustainable supply of high-quality corn to the Japanese market. SmartStax, developed by Dow AgroSciences and Monsanto, provides potential increases in corn yield and supply and will help support the increased consumption and utilization of corn around the world in the 2010 US season."
Monsanto Company is a provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that reportedly improve farm productivity and food quality.
