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StarLink and more StarLink (January 19, 2001 – Cropchoice news) – Amidst the haggling over who should pay the
cost of StarLink inspections, Japanese purchases of U.S. corn have slowed further.
Meanwhile, the EPA plans to cancel the registration for StarLink.
Japan repeatedly found traces of StarLink in corn imports from the United States. This
triggered concern among Japanese consumers, who prefer not to indulge in genetically
engineered corn. The StarLink variety never received approval for human consumption;
scientists suspect that it may cause allergic reactions. Backing up citizen concern, the
Japanese government has required strict testing of U.S. shipments.
It's the costs associated with these inspections that are hampering U.S. corn exports to
Japan. Reuters reported that "buying of U.S. corn has recently slowed further as
negotiations are making little progress between local corn users and trading houses on
who should bear the costs of StarLink inspections." The inspection at U.S. interior points
costs as much as $5 per metric ton.
As an alternative to U.S. corn, Japan may turn to cheap, non-biotech corn from China and
South America.
Meanwhile Aventis SA, the maker of StarLink, requested that the Environmental
Protection Agency cancel its registration for the gene-altered corn. The agency complied,
saying it will cancel the license next month.
Of course, Aventis still has to deal with the existing stocks of StarLink that contaminated
the human food supply. The company reportedly has collected all but 75,000 bushels of
last year's StarLink crop.
The contamination has cost the biotech company millions of dollars in damages, most of
which have gone to processors.
Sources: Reuters, Doane's
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