Posted March 17, 2014
A new study by the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations (FAO) shows an increase in low levels of genetically
modified (GMO) crops in traded food and feed, according to an FAO news release here. Agri-Pulse also reported on the story here.
The study
surveyed 75 out of 193 FAO member countries on questions of low levels of GMO
crops in international food and animal feed trade.
The incidents have led to “trade disruptions between
countries with shipments of grain, cereal and other crops being blocked by
importing countries and destroyed or returned to the country of origin.”
Since there is no international agreement defining or
quantifying “low level,” individual countries have set their own levels for
what is acceptable.
Results of the survey show that the frequency of
incidents has increased over the ten year period (2002-2012). Respondents reported 198 incidents between
2002 and 2012, but 138 of those incidents were reported between 2009 and 2012.
Most of the shipments with low levels of GM crops
originated from the US, Canada, and China.
The highest number of incidents involved linseed, rice, maize, and
papaya.
“The numbers of incidents are small relative to the
millions of tonnes of food and feed traded every day,” said Renata Clarke, FAO
Senior Food Safety Officer in charge of the survey. “But because trade disruptions may be very
costly and given the reported increase in occurrence of these disruptions, FAO
conducted this survey and is holding a technical consultation to try to start a
dialogue between countries on the issue.”
For more information on international trade, please
visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
