*EPF411 03/08/01
Text: U.S. Agency to Buy Back Corn Seed Mixed with StarLink Variety
(Seek to prevent planting of modified corn seed) (880)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that it will spend up to $20 million this year to compensate small seed companies for corn mixed with a genetically modified variety known as StarLink corn -- which has been approved for animal consumption but not for human use.
According to a March 7 release, USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation will buy back bags of corn seed found to contain the so-called Cry9C protein engineered into StarLink corn. The government buyback program is part of a coordinated effort with producers and the food industry to contain the movement of corn seed with the StarLink protein to ensure that it is not planted this spring.
The USDA program follows reports last week that seed companies had detected small amounts of the StarLink protein in some corn. The USDA said that the modified protein had been found in less than 1 percent of the nation's corn seed, and that the companies involved had recovered all lots of hybrid corn seed found to contain the protein.
Experts said the StarLink protein was most likely bred inadvertently into the seed corn for human consumption through the drift of pollen from other cornfields.
Last year, StarLink corn was found in taco shells and other corn-based products on grocery store shelves. That discovery prompted over 300 food product recalls, causing millions of dollars in losses to food processors, grain mills and farmers across the country.
Federal authorities approved StarLink for animal use in 1998 but have not allowed it for human use because of concern that it breaks down more slowly than other genetically engineered corn and might cause allergic reactions.
In a related development, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced March 7 that it would no longer consider issuing what is known as a split registration for a biotech pesticide like StarLink -- which permits its use for animal feed but not for people. From now on, EPA will require data showing that the biotechnology product is safe for both animal and human consumption. The EPA also released a draft paper for scientific peer review examining how food processing affects levels of the StarLink protein in finished food. The EPA draft paper is available at www.epa.gov/biopesticides
StarLink contains a gene that is spliced in to produce a form of a protein naturally made by a bacterium called Bacillus thuringienis, or Bt, to combat the European corn borer. Other genetically engineered crops on the market contain forms of the Bt protein, but those have been approved for both human and animal use, thus avoiding the problem that StarLink caused.
Following is the text of the USDA release:
(begin text)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of Communications
Press Release
USDA TO PURCHASE Cry9C AFFECTED CORN SEED FROM SMALL SEED COMPANIES
WASHINGTON, March 7, 2001 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture, through its Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), today announced it will immediately offer to purchase hybrid corn seed containing the protein Cry9C from small corn seed companies.
This program, estimated to cost between $15 and $20 million, is another step taken by the federal government in a coordinated effort with producers, agribusiness, and the food industry to contain the movement of corn seed with the protein Cry9C to ensure it is not planted this spring.
USDA will purchase the corn seed to ensure that companies not affiliated with Aventis, or licensed to sell the StarLink seed, but whose seed inadvertently contained the Cry9C protein, are not adversely affected. This offer does not extend to those companies licensed by Aventis, the registrant of StarLink to sell hybrid seed corn containing this protein.
Last week some seed companies reported finding isolated occurrences of extremely low levels of Cry9C in seed originally intended for sale this year. Based on aggregate information voluntarily provided by the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), of those companies reporting, it is estimated that less than one percent of corn seeds for 2001 planting, may contain Cry9C protein.
Companies involved have recovered and taken control of all lots of hybrid corn seed found to have this protein. Seed companies routinely test their products for impurities and many took steps to detect Cry9C before USDA recommended testing procedures on December 29, 2000.
Major seed companies have informed USDA of their intent to continue following recommended testing procedures designed to detect Cry9C, and USDA will monitor this activity. In the event Cry9C is found, these companies will not sell the corn seed for planting and not submit requests for payment to USDA.
USDA will inform farmers of these actions through various information channels, and will encourage farmers to ask for verification that their seed has been tested before buying it.
Because of the relatively small amount of seed involved, this action will not affect the price or the availability of corn seed this year.
Details of the purchase offer will be sent directly to seed corn companies this week including actions that the companies will need to take to receive payment from CCC.
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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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