Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has recommended the approval of food products derived from BASF’s genetically modified imidazolinone herbicide-tolerant CV127 soybeans. The soybeans were developed in collaboration with the Brazilian agricultural research corporation, the Embrapa, and are due to be introduced in Brazil in the 2013/14 season under the Cultivance brand (Agrow No 627, p 18). FSANZ began assessing the application in September 2011 (Agrow No 624, p 17). Its decision is ...

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has recommended the approval of food products derived from Monsanto’s genetically modified MON87427 maize. It has tissue-selective tolerance to the herbicide, glyphosate, for the production of viable hybrid seed. FSANZ began assessing the application last year (Agrow No 625, p 39). MON87427 is being reviewed for commercial planting by the US and Canadian authorities (Agrow No 615, p 22). The FSANZ decision is open to public comment until February ...

A US court has upheld last year’s deregulation decision by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for Monsanto/Forage Genetics’ genetically modified glyphosate-tolerant alfalfa. Lawyers from the Center for Food Safety and Earthjustice challenged the ruling in the US District Court for the Northern District of California last March (Agrow No 612, p 16). The groups accused the APHIS of deregulating Roundup Ready alfalfa for a second time without taking the required “hard look” at ...

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has proposed the deregulation of Dow AgroSciences’ genetically modified herbicide-tolerant Enlist maize (DAS-40278-9). The maize is tolerant to the phenoxy herbicide, 2,4-D, and aryloxyphenoxy propionate inhibitor graminicides. The company applied for USDA deregulation in 2009 (Agrow No 575, p 30). The APHIS has issued a plant pest risk assessment and a draft environmental assessment, which are open to public comment until February ...

Bayer CropScience is to launch its genetically modified glyphosate-tolerant GlyTol cotton in the US in 2010. The decision follows USDA approval in May and the earlier completion of consultations with the Food and Drug Administration. The USDA proposed the deregulation of GlyTol cotton last year (Agrow No 546, p 15). Bayer had originally planned to launch GlyTol this year in two cotton varieties suited to the south-west region of the US. However, in view of the “narrowing planting window” in ...

Monsanto has added three genetically modified insect-resistant and/or herbicide-tolerant crops to its high impact technology (HIT) list of development projects and expanded the criteria for HIT status. GM products must have the potential to be planted on more than 45 million acres (18 million ha) and to achieve sales of $300 million in their launch market by 2020 to gain the HIT rating. Products with HIT status will be accorded more resources for regulatory work and seed production to enable ...

An Argentine study that has raised concerns over the effects on human health from the use of the herbicide, glyphosate, is not part of a government-led investigation, the Argentine Minister of Science, Dr Lino Barano, says. The Minister has responded to reports of findings from a Health Ministry body in an interview with Argentine broadcast media, America 24. The study leader, Dr Andres Carrasco, claims that the herbicide’s use could cause neurological, intestinal or cardiac damage (Agrow No ...

Monsanto has filed a lawsuit againstDuPont and its seed subsidiary, Pioneer Hi-Bred International , over the use of its technology in Pioneer’s genetically modified herbicide-tolerant Optimum GAT soybeans and maize. Monsanto claims that Pioneer’s stacking of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready glyphosate tolerance trait with Optimum GAT lines infringes Monsanto patents and breaches existing licensing deals. The companies have been seeking to resolve the issue out of court since December 2008 (Agrow No ...