EU Approval of Roundup Ready Sugarbeet Attributed to Markwart

Statement for EU Approval of Roundup Ready Sugarbeet Attributed to Luther Markwart, Executive Vice President, American Sugarbeet Growers and Co-Chair of the Sugar Industry Biotech Council WASH D.C.-The Sugar Industry Biotech Council is very pleased with the announcement by the European Union (EU) to formally approve the importation of sugar, pulp and molasses and products containing these ingredients for food and animal feed from biotechnology-enhanced sugarbeets. This action by the EU executive body allows unrestricted imports of food and feed products made from (H7-1) glyphosate-tolerant (Roundup Ready) sugarbeets improved through biotechnology. The decision is supported by the finding of a scientific review panel of the European Food Safety Authority that determined sugar from biotechnology-enhanced sugarbeets is safe and is the same as any other refined sugar currently on the market. Sugarbeet growers in North America (U.S. and Canada) can plant sugarbeets with confidence, knowing that the sugar and products that contain sugar derived from biotechnology-enhanced sugarbeets can be imported into all key markets around the world. The U.S. is the second largest sugar importer in the world. Growers who use biotechnology-enhanced sugarbeets are better able to manage weeds and increase productivity while providing several environmental benefits.