| 11/6/2003 Canada Ponders New Step For Crop, Food Approvals - 11/6 Reuters Until now, new foods have had to pass rigorous scientific tests for food, feed and environmental safety to be approved for production in Canada. But farm and environmental groups have argued the government should also consider the impact new foods have on markets. "We recognize with the rush in new technologies ... that technology is getting ahead of the market," said Jamie Oxley, deputy director of cross-sectoral policy development for the federal agriculture department. "There's a need to recognize that market acceptance is an issue and we need a further step in the chain from discovery through to commercialization ... to ensure consumers get what they expect," Oxley told Reuters in an interview. Bureaucrats have discussed the issue informally with farmers, processors, scientists and other industry players, Oxley said. Suggestions about what the new step should entail range widely from new regulations to industry-policed standards, he said, noting no decisions have been made. He said the department hopes to launch more formal consultations by spring or summer. "One of the key words we heard was, 'Do it right, don't do it rushed,'" Oxley said, adding the government does not want to stifle scientific innovation. Market acceptance has been at the heart of a debate over a genetically modified wheat developed by Monsanto Co. (MON.N: Quote, Profile, Research) that is currently being tested for food, feed and environmental safety by Canadian and U.S. regulators. Even if it obtains approval, Monsanto has promised it will wait to commercialize its wheat until at least some customers will buy it and until it can be completely segregated from traditional milling wheat. But the Canadian Wheat Board, which sells the bulk of Canada's staple crop, has said 80 percent of its customers would reject Canadian wheat if Ottawa approves the new GM variety, which withstands Monsanto's Roundup weedkiller. Related Link: http://www.reuters.com |
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