Feed industry groups issue joint statement on EU import laws

COCERAL, FEDIOL and FEFAC have called on the European Commission to safeguard imports of soybeans, corn and various protein-rich products from the key exporting regions to the EU.

The European association of cereals, rice, feedstuffs oilseeds, olive oil, oils and fats and agrosupply trade (COCERAL), the EU Vegetable Oil and Proteinmeal Industry (FEDIOL) and European Feed Manufacturers' Federation (FEFAC) have called on the European Commission to safeguard imports of soybeans, corn and various protein-rich products derived thereof from the key exporting regions to the EU.

In a joint statement, COCERAL, FEDIOL and FEFAC said the EU depends on global markets for 75 percent of its protein-rich ingredients for feeding purposes. Some of these genetically modified (GM) products, corn, soy and rapeseed are already commercialized abroad; others will be harvested and made available in the key exporting regions to the EU beginning in fall 2014. Further delays in the EU authorization process may lead to significant shortage and trade disruptions due to unavoidable presence of these GM events in supplies of both GM and non-GM material. This would trigger uncertainty on import flows, supply chain disruptions and price hikes for basic food products and major feed ingredients as well as undermine the competitiveness of the EU food, feed and livestock sectors, if a decision is not made in July.

The eight GM products have been deemed safe by the European Food Safety Authority (ESFA) and have reached the final stage of the risk management process.
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