Monsanto agrees to annual audits on biotech wheat


Reuters, 20 November 2003, 1:13 PM ET


WASHINGTON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Monsanto Co. (nyse: MON - news - people) has
agreed to annual audits of its facilities to assure the federal government
that it would not sell genetically engineered wheat until foreign markets
accept the crop, a company spokeswoman said on Thursday.

The St. Louis-based company has asked the U.S. and Canadian governments to
approve a herbicide-tolerant biotech wheat hybrid. The Roundup Ready wheat,
which could be commercially available within two years, would be the first
biotech wheat in the world.

Monsanto has pledged not to sell it until at least the United States,
Canada and Japan accept it.

U.S. wheat groups are nervous that they will lose their lucrative export
market if Monsanto starts selling biotech wheat before there is more
consumer acceptance.

If Monsanto gets U.S. approval before the other two countries, the company
said it agreed to allow independent auditors to review its farms and
facilities to show that no biotech wheat was accidentally seeping into the
market. The audit reports would then be reviewed by the USDA.

David Shipman, deputy administrator for the USDA's Federal Grain Inspection
Service, said the agreement allows the USDA to continue to state that no
biotech wheat was grown for commercial use in the United States -- a
statement found on all U.S. wheat exports.

"Monsanto has voluntarily agreed to meet the conditions established by USDA
GIPSA to maintain the current no transgenic wheat letterhead statement,"
said company spokeswoman Shannon Troughton, referring to USDA's Grain
Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.

Shipman said the company will also certify at the beginning of each year
that it would not sell biotech wheat. Monsanto executives could face up to
$20,000 in fines and five years in jail if they knowingly violate the
agreement, he said.

Copyright 2003, Reuters News Service