Written Assurance on Cry9C Sought

March 9, 2001

Four major trade associations representing grain exporters, corn millers and corn processors Thursday issued a joint statement recommending that buyers of raw corn "urge every corn grower to obtain written certification from their seed suppliers" that hybrid corn seed being purchased has been tested and found to be negative for the presence of the Cry9C protein found in StarLink* corn.

The National Grain and Feed Association, Corn Refiners Association, North American Export Grain Association and the North American Millers Association noted that the tolerance for Cry9C protein effectively is zero for corn processed into human food in the United States, as well as raw corn shipments destined for major U.S. export markets. StarLink corn has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for use in animal feed, but not for use in food because of potential concerns over allergic reactions in some highly sensitive segments of the human population.

"Given this situation, it is only prudent to expect that many U.S. corn customers and U.S. regulators in 2001 will continue to use very sensitive ELISA technology to test for the presence of Cry9C," the joint statement said. "Therefore, corn farmers also should be prepared to have corn deliveries tested at the first point of sale. Requesting certification (that seed has tested negative for Cry9C) will greatly assist in controlling the potential for positive tests for Cry9C protein in 2001 farmer corn deliveries."

They said that buyers of corn in the commercial market "as a prudent business practice may wish to assure themselves that appropriate certifications have been received" by producers from whom they buy.

The commercial grain-based groups said that based upon information provided by the seed industry, it appears that there is a "high rate of compliance" with USDA's request in December 2000 that hybrid seed companies voluntarily test seed stock for the presence of Cry9C protein using USDA testing protocols.

"While we appreciate the voluntary efforts of individual seed companies to perform tests of their planting seed and parent lines, it is so important to our customer base to eliminate Cry9C protein from the U.S. corn supply that we urge purchasers of corn who buy directly from farmers to discuss this issue with growers," the joint statement said. "It is our understanding that seed companies are prepared to provide written verification that seed being sold has been appropriately tested and found to be negative for Cry9C."

The joint statement noted that two major producer organizations -- the National Corn Growers Association and the American Farm Bureau Federation -- already have urged their farmer-members to request certification that seed corn intended for planting has been tested using USDA protocols and found not to contain the Cry9C protein.

USDA announced Wednesday that it would immediately offer, through its Commodity Credit Corporation, to purchase hybrid corn seed containing trace levels of the Cry9C protein from small corn seed companies under a voluntary program. Data provided by the American Seed Trade Association estimate that testing by its member companies detected the presence of Cry9C protein in less than 1 percent of the hybrid corn seeds intended for planting in 2001.

Major seed companies that do not qualify for the USDA purchase offer have informed the government of their intent to continue testing seed stock to detect Cry9C using USDA testing protocols, and have provided assurances that they voluntarily will remove seed that tests positive from the market. USDA has said it will monitor the performance of major seed companies concerning this matter.