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Japanese Biotech Regulators to Reevaluate Regulatory Process
Because Japan has a 100 percent zero tolerance level on genetically
enhanced grains, the opportunity for a team of regulators to learn more
about the U.S. regulatory system for biotech crops did more than just educate,
it also eased concerns. Most of the regulators on the team work in a
fixed environment, generating only scientifically “ideal” situations, said
U.S. Grains Council Director in Japan Tetsuo Hamamoto.
“By the end of
the trip, the team concluded that the regulatory review should take the practices
of actual U.S. farmers into consideration for their commercial production,
particularly in the future when more varieties of biotech corn, including
combined traits, are on the market.” Understanding the U.S. regulatory
policies and measures while also identifying with a local farmer were essential
to the regulators’ judgment on the use of biotechnology.
While touring
the facilities of Council member Pioneer, A DuPont Business, the regulator
team gained a better understanding about how field corn results improve through biotechnology. Pioneer representatives
discussed development policies and the company’s risk management procedures regarding prevention of
low level presence of traits or plants that have not yet been granted regulatory approvals.
The team also saw corn currently
in production at the farm of Dick Gallagher of Iowa Corn Promotion Board, which is a member of the Council.
“Developing relationships is instrumental. When biotechnology regulators are afforded the opportunity to meet U.S.
farmers face-to-face, their concerns are eased substantially,” said Gallagher. “When they ride in the combine with
you, they realize that we, as U.S. farmers, value their business.” Hamamoto said, “The regulators appreciated the opportunity
to gain a better understanding of U.S. grain production. They have realized that their decisions have connections
with the reality of commercial seed and grain production.”
TheBioenergySite News Desk
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