[Ngo-sanrm] Vietnam requiring foreign firms build GM corn plants as condition to enter market

Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources Management Working Group ngo-sanrm at ngocentre.org.vn
Thu Sep 3 00:55:44 ICT 2015


Saigon Times
<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/14f8e9059ca8cf70?compose=14f8f2dc88e3cfcb%2C14f8f2fa3fa9b384>
Thursday,  Sep 3,2015,00:46 (GMT+7)
GM corn trading firms required to build facilitiesNgoc Hung
Wednesday,  Aug 26,2015,19:59 (GMT+7)
A farmer in the Mekong Delta harvests GM corn. The Ministry of Agriculture
and Rural Development is drafting a circular intended to ensure effective
management of GM crop issues in the future - PHOTO: NGOC HUNG

HCMC – Companies will have to invest in genetically modified (GM) corn
grain production plants in Vietnam as one of the conditions to get a
license to sell the commodity in this market in the next four to five years.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development mentions this condition
in a circular it is preparing to draft so as to control GM crops in
Vietnam, and help Vietnam avoid heavy reliance on GM seed imports and
effectively manage GM-related issues that might arise.

In March, the ministry issued a decision allowing Syngenta to supply GM
corn varieties NK66 BT, NK66 GT and NK66 BT/GT for large-scale farming in
Vietnam.

Asked about the condition for investment in a GM seed plant in Vietnam,
Syngenta said it would follow the rule as part of its long-term investment
in this market. The firm plans to develop a production facility whose
capacity would be decided by market demand.

Syngenta suggested the ministry support it to lease a lot of agricultural
land that is big enough for production of GM corn grains.

Pham Duc Tuan, who is in charge of legal affairs at Syngenta, said
producing GM corn grains in Vietnam is not a concern but leasing vast
farmland for a production facility is.

In addition to Syngenta, DEKALB, an agricultural seeds unit of Monsanto, is
conducting experimental farming of several GM corn varieties before they
are approved for mass cultivation in Vietnam.

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*CHUCK SEARCY*
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