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40 I EUROPEAN SEED I EUROPEAN-SEED.COM REGULATORY use of DUS material including DNA obtained from DUS material during and after DUS testing. The issues raised include - Who owns the DUS material - Under which conditions may research stations exchange DUS material - Can DUS material also be used in Essential Derived Varieties and infringement cases in order to reinforce the Plant Breeders Rights system The policy note covers these and other questions. It is currently only available in Dutch at www.raadvoorplantenrassen.nl. EFSA CALLS FOR NEONIC DATA European Food Safety Authority is asking national authorities research institutions industry and other interested parties to submit new information relevant to the evaluation of the risks posed to bees by three neonicotinoid pesticides applied as seed treatments and granules. The call for data complies with the decision taken by the European Commission in May 2013 to put in place measures to restrict the use of clothianidin thiamethoxam and imidacloprid. For example their use as a seed or soil treatment and for pre-flowering applications was prohibited on crops attractive to bees and for cereals other than winter cereals. The Commission said at the time that within two years it would initiate a review of any new scientific information. The call for data is the first step in this process. Interested parties are urged to submit information on the effects exposure and risks of the three substances as regards bees honeybees bumble bees and solitary bees when used as seed treatments and granules. INTERNATIONAL MONSANTO PLANS TO DIVEST SYNGENTA SEED DIVISION Reuters reports that Monsanto the worlds largest seed company plans to divest Syngenta Ags seeds and genetic traits businesses as well as some overlapping chemistry assets to win regulatory approval for a takeover of its Swiss rival. We intend to make this a really clean deal Monsanto president Brett Begemann said in a presentation to investors. According to Reuters he said Monsanto is confident it can address all regulatory concerns about a combination of the agrichemical and seed giants. Syngenta has rejected the 45 billion offer but Monsanto continues to pursue it. Syngentas board of directors in conjunction with its legal and financial advisers has undertaken a thorough review of all aspects of Monsantos offer and has unanimously determined to reject Monsantos proposal as it is not in the best interests of Syngenta its shareholders and its stakeholders Syngenta says in a statement. The offer fundamentally undervalues Syngentas prospects and underestimates the significant execution risks including regulatory and public scrutiny at multiple levels in many countries the company adds. Monsanto issued a follow-up statement confirming it had approached Syngenta with a private proposal to Syngentas board of directors to acquire Syngenta for 449.00 CHF per share. Monsanto believes the combined company would be uniquely positioned to deliver a comprehensive suite of integrated solutions to farmers around the world and to accelerate technological innovation through precision agriculture and advanced research and development capabilities aimed at increasing the worlds food supply in a sustainable fashion Monsanto says in its statement. USDA DISAPPOINTED WITH EPAS ANALYSIS OF NEONIC SEED TREATMENTS The United States Department of Agriculture USDA expressed disappointment regarding the Environmental Protection Agencys incomplete analysis on neonicotinoid seed treatments for soybeans and the burden its created for growers according to a statement from the American Soybean Association. In October 2014 EPAs report indicated there are no clear or consistent economic benefits of neonicotinoid seed treatments in soybeans a conclusion USDA said is not only false but has again put growers in a position where they must defend their pest management decisions. As a whole USDA disagrees with that assessment USDA states in a letter sent to the EPA in April. We believe that pest management strategies are made in consideration of pest pressures climate landscape and numerous other factors. USDA stressed that growers should have the ability to use the best tools available to manage pests including choice in seed treatment and pest management tactics based on what works for individual situations. GMO DEBATE REGULATORY HURDLES DISCUSSED AT SYNGENTA ANNUAL MEETING At Aprils annual general meeting of Syngenta AG board chairman Michel Demar referenced recent debates and regulatory hurdles that continue to make doing business a challenge for companies such as Syngenta. The future of our industry and of our company is still highly dependent on our license to operate in a world where we constantly face preconceived ideas and opposition about technology in agriculture Demar says. The polarised debate about pollinators and neonicotinoids in Europe and the contentious issue of the labeling of food containing genetically modified ingredients in the U.S. were just two issues which gained significant coverage in the past year. Syngenta continued to be active in this debate. SOYBEAN STAKEHOLDERS MONETISE BIOTECH APPROVAL DELAYS A three-year postponement in the global approval of biotech-enhanced soybean traits any time in the next 10 years would cost farmers and consumers a total of nearly 19 billion compared with typical approval timelines according to a new white paper funded by the International Soybean Growers Alliance ISGA. This new research was released during a recent ISGA mission where farm leaders from the United States Argentina Brazil and Paraguay met with Chinese government officials and influencers to discuss the economic implications of these delays for global producers and consumers of soy. Its no secret that soy is part of a global market says Bob Haselwood United Soybean Board USB chairman and soybean farmer from Berryton Kansas. We need a coordinated effort across North America South America and China to work toward timely international approvals for new biotech traits to grow a safe reliable and abundant food supply that is profitable for both producers and consumers. Farmers in large soy-exporting countries that quickly adopt new technology the U.S. Brazil and Argentina and consumers in large importing countries China and the nations in the European Union have the most to lose from delayed approvals according to the white paper. As an example of important biotech approvals that farmers might need in the near future the study examined herbicide-tolerance traits and analysed the effects of approval delays through 2025. The white paper The Potential Economic Impacts of Delayed Biotech Innovation in Soybeans was developed in conjunction with ISGA members by researchers Nicholas Kalaitsandonakes Kenneth Sahringer and Jon Kruse at the University of Missouri. VERMONT ADOPTS GMO LABELLING LAW The Vermont Attorney Generals Office has formally adopted the regulations implementing Act 120 the law requiring the labeling of food produced with genetic engineering. The rule takes effect July 1 2016. This is a process that began with the legislatures careful crafting of Act 120 says Attorney General Bill Sorrell. We are pleased at the amount of public input we received during the rule-making process from industry and consumers and are glad that with the formal adoption of this rule we are giving ample time for food manufacturers and retailers to prepare for the law to take effect in just over 14 months. The final rule provides the requirements for how the Produced with Genetic Engineering label should appear on processed food details the exemptions from the labeling requirement and contains enforcement provisions for violations of the law.