The American Soybean Association joined other agriculture groups and members of the U.S. Biotech Crops Alliance (USBCA) in a letter urging the EU Commission to complete import authorization of eight new biotech events, including four soybean products, which have already received positive safety assessments from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

“We urge the European Commission to respect the EU’s obligations under the WTO to make timely regulatory decisions on new biotechnology applications. The time required for EU decisions on new biotech crops has only lengthened in recent years and no authorizations have been issued since November 2013.  Several of the eight products have been before the European Commission since the end of 2013, and were submitted to EFSA more than five years ago,” the groups stated in the letter.

The letter emphasized that the delays could cause feed shortages and price increases, which would affect European producers, traders, livestock industry and consumers.

“In addition, some of these products are already being grown in exporting countries under stewardship programs.  Timely action now by the Commission to provide final authorization will ensure that there is no risk of disruption to the essential supply of feedstocks needed by the EU’s livestock and feed industries,” the letter states, “Any disruption would have a serious impact on the livestock and poultry industries and feed processors in Europe, which are 70 percent dependent on imports of protein, as well as to consumers in the form of higher prices.”