Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44JULY 2016 33 REGULATORY ROUNDUP Keeping you informed of legislative and regulatory changes at the provincial, national and international levels — from lawsuits to approvals to other regulatory issues affecting your business. NATIONAL CANOLA COUNCIL WELCOMES OPPORTUNITY FOR STABLE TRADE WITH CHINA The governments of China and Canada agreed to continue discussions to find a permanent science-based solution to Chinese concerns about the disease blackleg. Canola trade will continue under current commercial terms until Sept. 1, while further research and information sharing occurs. Dockage will continue to meet the terms of commercially negotiated contracts. SOY CANADA CALLS ON EU TO FINALIZE GM APPROVALS Soy Canada has asked the European Commission for a formal explanation of its delay in finalizing the approvals of three genetically modified soybean products. In a letter to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Soy Canada Chairman Mark Huston stresses that Canadian soybean producers should have access to the latest seed innovations. “Effectively, the EU Commission is denying Canadian farmers access to new seed innovation,” said Huston. “It’s a totally unacceptable situation.” CSTA RELEASES COEXISTENCE PLAN FOR ALFALFA HAY Following extensive consultation with stakeholders along the alfalfa hay production chain in Western Canada, a Coexistence Plan for Alfalfa Hay in Western Canada is now available. Recognizing that GM development of alfalfa and other crop kinds will continue, the Canadian Seed Trade Association facilitated a value chain process to develop a coexistence plan for conventional, organic and GM alfalfa production, first in Eastern Canada in 2013, and now in Western Canada. Many experts contributed to the development of the Western coexistence plan and voluntary best management practices, including forage specialists, alfalfa producers, seed companies and honey producers. PMRA’S POSSIBLE BAN ON THIRAM AS A SEED TREATMENT DRAWS CRITICISM The America Seed Trade Association (ASTA) submitted comments to the Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) expressing concerns about the agency’s intention to cancel the registration for thiram for use as a seed treatment. PMRA is reviewing the registration of a number of fungicides used as seed treatments, including thiram, captan and iprodione. Thiram is widely used as a seed treatment on vegetable seed in the United States and then exported to Canada. It is the preferred choice as a seed treatment for vegetable seed exporters and Canadian growers because of its broad functionality, low cost and the extensive list of countries where it is registered. ASTA asks that the PMRA revisit its decision based on new risk data and low potential exposure resulting from the use of thiram as a seed treatment. INTERNATIONAL U.S. MAKES MOVE ON INTERNATIONAL TREATY Following a hearing in May, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee has scheduled a vote on the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture for June 23. The treaty, which has been ratified by more than 139 countries, has been a top priority of the U.S. seed industry. Ratification would require no new laws, and it would not require any appropriations from Congress. EPA: GLYPHOSATE DOES NOT CAUSE CANCER As part of its ongoing registration review of the herbicide glyphosate, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published its official classification of glyphosate as “Not Likely to be Carcinogenic to Humans.” This determination is the published conclusion of EPA’s Cancer Assessment Review Committee and is based on the overwhelming weight of evidence on glyphosate. The CARC report is publicly available on EPA’s glyphosate docket. CHINA RELEASES NEW GMO POLICY ROADMAP China has mapped a plan for the future of genetically modified crops, giving priority to development of non-edible cash crops. Officials noted at an April press conference that next in line comes indirectly edible and then edible crops, reflecting China’s “prudent attitude to genetically modified crops.” For GM crops, China currently only allows the planting of insect- resistant cotton and antiviral papaya for commercial purposes. Genetically modified imports include soybean, corn, rapeseed oil, cotton and sugar beet. Industrialization of GM crops will focus on cash crops and industrial crops from 2016 to 2020, while ramping up the research, development and promotion of insect-resistant cotton and corn. PAKISTAN APPROVES COMMERCIALIZATION OF GM CORN, COTTON The Pakistan National Biosafety Centre, under the Ministry of Climate Change, held meetings to review long-pending applications of multiple biotech crops for lab work, field trials and commercialization submitted by public and private sector institutions and companies. Major crops include wheat (field trials), cotton (commercialization) and corn (commercialization). In corn, Pakistan has approved commercialization of insect- resistant and herbicide-tolerant traits, whereas in cotton it has approved commercialization of an insect-resistant trait.