By Jeremy Smith

European Union biotech experts clashed on Monday on whether to authorize
imports of a genetically modified soybean made by Monsanto, leaving the
final decision to EU farm ministers, the EU executive said.
The soybean, a second-generation GM product known by its code number MON
89788, is designed to resist glyphosate Roundup Ready herbicides and also
produce increased yields for farmers.

Monsanto's application for EU approval is for use in food and feed, not for
cultivation in Europe's fields.

Europe's livestock and feed manufacturing industries have a keen interest in
the EU authorizing more soybean imports since they depend heavily on
shipments of soy products -- beans, meal - as a source of protein-rich and
high-quality feed.

EU countries only produce a minimal amount of soybeans in terms of overall
EU consumption, so imports are crucial. Soybean meal is the primary source
of protein for the EU animal feed market, representing more than 60 percent
of vegetable protein.

Rapeseed meal is the second source of raw material for feedmakers but its
protein content is much lower, between 30 and 35 percent. However, it has
the advantage of mainly being produced in Europe.

After Monday's inconclusive vote by the national EU experts, the application
will now be sent to ministers for discussion.

However, if the ministers disagree after three months and fail to muster
enough consensus under the EU's weighted voting system either to approve or
reject the application, the European Commission - the EU executive - will
issue a default approval.

"As a result of today's inconclusive vote, the Commission will now transmit
the dossier to the Council (of EU farm ministers) for a decision," the
Commission said in a statement.

"If the Council does not reach a position within three months, the proposal
will be sent back to the Commission for final adoption," it said.

Diplomats said 12 states voted in favor: Belgium, Britain, Bulgaria,
Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, the
Netherlands and Czech Republic. Six were against: Greece, Cyprus,
Luxembourg, Hungary, Austria and Poland.

The rest, apart from absentees Lithuania and Malta, abstained in the vote.

EU law allows for rubberstamp GMO authorizations when ministers cannot agree
after a certain time. Since 2004, the Brussels-based European Commission has
approved a string of GM products, nearly all maize, in this way, outraging
green groups.

That happened earlier this month with another modified soybean, developed
and marketed by Bayer CropScience and known by its codenumber A2704-12

While the EU has now approved a string of GM products by default
rubberstamp, it does not yet allow the presence of any other GMO on EU
territory, even in tiny amounts, until the EU approval for that specific GM
product is granted.

www.checkbiotech.og