Saint Louis, Missouri
February 27, 2009
The American Soybean
Association (ASA) welcomes today's announcements that two
new biotech-enhanced soybean varieties, the Roundup Ready 2
Yield™ Soybean (MON 89788) from Monsanto and the LibertyLink®
soybeans (A2704-12) from Bayer CropScience have both achieved
additional import approval milestones from Korean regulatory
agencies that pave the way for commercialization in the United
States.
"The American Soybean Association recognizes the efforts of
South Korean regulators to move forward with authorizations for
these new soybean varieties," said ASA President Johnny Dodson,
a producer from Halls, Tenn. "These approvals are critical to
U.S. soybean growers and to our soybean and soybean product
customers in South Korea."
The Roundup Ready 2 Yield Soybean received food safety approval
from the Korean Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) today, Feb.
27, 2009. The approval from KFDA, along with the environmental
safety authorization received from the Rural Development
Administration (RDA) on Jan. 19, completes a 2-year regulatory
review process in Korea. As such, and together with other
previous obtained approvals, there are no longer any
requirements for planting and movement stewardship restrictions
on soybeans with the Roundup Ready 2 Yield trait in the United
States.
LibertyLink Soybeans also reached another milestone in South
Korea with the approval by RDA on Feb. 25. The LibertyLink
Soybean application now moves into the final stages for approval
under KFDA. This will include a 20-day public comment period.
"We are optimistic this latest development indicates full import
approval is likely very soon," Dodson said.
LibertyLink Soybeans are fully approved for food, feed and
cultivation in the United States and Canada and approved for
import into Australia, China, the European Union, Japan, Mexico,
New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, South Africa and Taiwan.
"ASA has worked in partnership with Bayer CropScience and
Monsanto to educate foreign buyers on biotechnology and for
regulatory clearances of these new traits," Dodson said.
ASA has also worked closely with the South Korean industry for
approval of these new soybean traits. In January, ASA Board
member and ASA Biotech Working Group member Ron Moore traveled
to South Korea to join American Soybean Association
International Marketing (ASA-IM) South Korea Director Say Young
Jo and representatives of U.S. Grains Council, the North
American Export Grain Association and biotech company
representatives for meetings with South Korean feed industry
representatives, soybean and corn processors, and soy and corn
product importers on the urgent need for South Korea to complete
its regulatory review and approvals. |
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