UPDATE: Bloomberg reports - citing unnamed sources - the government of China has informed some that the Ministry of Agriculture has approved removing the ban on imports of the strand of GMO corn.
Dive Brief:
- Syngenta says it expects China will approve imports of the controversial strain of corn at the center of a series of legal disputes "in the near future."
- The seed company has been seeking approval of its Viptera strain since 2010.
- Acceptance from China would be good news for corn growers, even those that don't use Viptera. Virtually all corn exports to China were halted after that nation detected the Viptera strain in import cargos in November 2013.
Dive Insight:
Syngenta, and most of the U.S. Corn Belt, would welcome some good news from China. But even a lifting of China's ban wouldn't put the Viptera scandal to rest. Many blame Syngenta for moving forward with the strain prior to winning China's approval. That premature move has cost the industry a pretty penny. And the lawsuits tied to Viptera will likely drag on for years.