Together with other value chain organizations, ASA is working to ensure that the upcoming meeting of the Global Low Level Presence Initiative (GLI) builds on progress achieved last year in the effort to establish international standards for the adventitious presence of biotech events in commodity shipments. The GLI will hold its next meeting in Durban, South Africa, on September 18, 19 and 20.

There has been no indication of which U.S. officials will attend, although last year’s meeting in Vancouver included high-level representatives from USDA, Office of U.S. Trade Representative, and the State Department.  At the initiative of the North American Grain Trade Association (NAEGA), ASA and other members of the ASA-NCGA Biotech Value Chain Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) process sent letters to these agencies pointing out the need to continue the momentum of the GLI and asking to meet with officials as they prepare to participate in the Durban meeting.  A meeting is expected next week.

Additionally, ASA First Vice President Ray Gaesser will attend a Southern Africa market development meeting being organized by USDA in Johannesburg on September 16, 17 and 18, and may also participate in the GLI meeting.

ASA and the other MOU members have assigned a high priority to establishing and gaining international acceptance of commercially-feasible low-level presence (LLP) standards in order to facilitate the continued growth in the production and trade of biotech commodities.