Ethanol Blog

The effect of China's new certification requirements for dried distillers grains with solubles on trade dominated discussions at the U.S. Grains Council's annual Board of Delegates meeting recently in Omaha, according to an article on the Council's website (http://bit.ly/…).

China announced it will now require governmental certification on all DDGS shipments guaranteeing they do not contain the MIR 162 GMO trait. The announcement has cut off new sales of DDGs to China since such certification does not exist.

China has been dragging its feet on approving the trait, although it has been approved in the U.S. and most major markets for some time.

Former USGC chairman Julius Schaaf wrote a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack asking for assistance in resolving the issue with China. Also, USGC staff, consultants and state organization partners have been communicating with USDA officials, as well as the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, to find a way to solve the trade obstacles. The Council is also maintaining ongoing programs aimed at building the market in China, including bringing U.S. producers to China to building relationships with think-tanks, industry, academic and government, as well as hosting trade teams of Chinese industry and government officials vital in developing China's food security policies and biotech approvals.

The Council is calling for China to immediately approve the MIR 162 trait and to find long-term solutions to China's restrictions on biotech imports.

Cheryl Anderson can be reached at Cheryl.anderson@dtn.com.

(CZ)

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