US team to meet with China on GMO policy - Veneman
Date: 25-Feb-02
Country: USA
Author: Julie Ingwersen
"We must not let regulatory barriers, such as the proposed regulations on biotech, restrict our exports. We will send a team next week again to further discussions on this issue," Veneman said in an address to farmers at the Commodity Classic, the annual joint convention of the American Soybean Association and the National Corn Growers Association.
"I got a phone call on the plane advising that the team was going to go for sure this week," Veneman told reporters after her speech. adding that she did not have details of the U.S. team's agenda.
"As far as I know, they're going to continue discussions with officials about the regulations, about how they may be put forward," she said.
"The whole array of how this regulatory scheme might be put forth, but also the implementation process itself, will be under discussion," she said.
Earlier, China's Premier Zhu Rongji appeared to rebuff U.S. requests for flexibility on the rules, telling U.S. President George W. Bush, in Beijing on an official visit, that they were in line with international practice.
The United States wants the rules governing genetically modified (GM) foods, which threaten $1 billion in U.S. soybean sales annually, to be delayed or relaxed.
Last week a U.S. Department of Agriculture official raised the possibility of lodging a complaint against China through the World Trade Organization.
