The American Soybean Association recently addressed the European Commission to urge them to improve the process of accepting crops grown with new biotechnology traits.  ASA noted that the delay in accepting these crops after passing through the EU’s long review process creates a barrier to the American soybean market and creates risk in the feed supply for Europe’s livestock industry.

The statement to the EU comes as a result of the report released in January by European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly.  Her report shows the delays in the previous Commission’s decisions to withhold approval for new biotech crops.  She called the decisions “maladministration.”

ASA President Richard Wilkins note the improvements already made by the Commission, and requests that they keep moving forward in that direction.  His statement says:

“While Ombudsman O’Reilly’s report is a reaffirmation of what we have known to be true for some time, it is still a good acknowledgement of the work that is ahead with regard to Europe. The process for approving new traits for export must be a transparent, efficient and science-based one. And the current Commission must not shirk its responsibility to provide final authorization of new biotech products after they have traveled through the EU’s established reviews and processes. Several new soybean biotech traits now are awaiting final approval by the Commission; it needs to provide final authorizations expeditiously and in accord with EU regulations.”