Print

The sample containing StarLink was among five that had tested negative in the United States but were sent to Japan for a second check:

'The finding could be a blow to U.S. exporters after traders said Monday's agreement on the plan for genetic testing to detect StarLink biotech corn in exports for animal feed would likely spur Japanese buying of U.S. corn this week."
---

Japan Again Finds StarLink, Asks U.S. to Halt Shipment (Reuters 12/19/00)
Tuesday: StarLink found in U.S. corn set for Japan food use

TOKYO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Japan's Health Ministry has found genetically modified StarLink corn, banned by Tokyo, in a cargo of corn for food use awaiting shipment to Japan from the United States, the Kyodo news agency said on Tuesday.  The announcement came just a day after Japan's Agriculture Ministry said it had agreed to a U.S. plan for testing corn to be shipped to Japan for animal feed to ensure it does not contain StarLink gene-spliced corn.

Japan, the single biggest buyer of U.S. corn, has cut purchases sharply since a consumer group in late October found traces of StarLink in Japan's food and feed products made from U.S.-imported corn.  Kyodo said the sample containing StarLink was among five that had tested negative in the United States but were sent to Japan for a second check under an agreed procedure between the two countries,

The ministry has asked the U.S. government to halt the shipment of the 1,500 tonnes of the corn from which the sample was taken.  The finding could be a blow to U.S. exporters after traders said Monday's agreement on the plan for genetic testing to detect StarLink biotech corn in exports for animal feed would likely spur Japanese buying of U.S. corn this week.

The Agriculture Ministry said on Monday it and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would support exporters and importers seeking compensation from Aventis CropScience, the developer of StarLink corn, for the cost of supplying information and other expenses associated with the certification process. Japan's Health Ministry agreed in November to a USDA plan to prevent StarLink from being mixed with food exports to Japan.

Japan imports four million tonnes for food and another 12 million tonnes for animal feed each year. StarLink is not approved for use in either food or animal feed in Japan.  StarLink, made by Franco-German drug firm Aventis SA , has not been approved by U.S. regulators for human consumption because of potential allergic reactions.