Last Updated: March 22, 2004
February 2001 —
"On January 5, Algeria, which imports large amounts of durum
wheat from the United States [and Canada], announced that it would
not import any genetically modified wheat. Egypt and Saudi Arabia
are taking a similar tack with respect to wheat."
Cropchoice News, February 2, 2001
July 2003 —
“They [Egyptian buyers, millers and consumers] know GMO
wheat is not in the pipeline now, but they don’t want to
see it... Buyers don’t want it.” — Hassan Abdel
Ghaffar, Cairo-based senior marketing specialist and programs
manager for U.S. Wheat Associates. Cropchoice News, July 2003.
February 2002 —
"If you have just one grain in a thousand which is genetically
modified, the consumer is going to refuse it." — Egyptian
trader
Reuters, February 9, 2002
February 2001 —
"It's definitely become an issue in the Middle East. People
just don't want it (genetically engineered wheat)." —
David Payne, director of Louis Dreyfus Negoce. Louis Dreyfus Negoce
is one of the worlds largest agricultural commodity trading companies.
"GM Concern Could Mar US Wheat Sales to Egypt,"
February 9, 2002 Reuters.
May 2003 —
“These days consumers world wide have serious concerns regarding
genetically modified foods.... we [will] purchase only non GM
wheat... we request your due consideration of these economic and
market factors in deciding whether to introduce GM wheat.”
— Amarabeh Alemu, Dire Dawa Food Complex S. Co., letter
to US Department of Agriculture. (Similar letters were sent
by D.H. Geda Flour Factory, PLC; Kaliti Food Share Company; Petram
PLC, importers; and the Ethiopian Flour Millers Association.
May 2003 —
“We PETRAM PLC importers are writing to express concern
about the introduction of genetically modified wheat in the United
States…Consumers world wide have grave concerns regarding
genetically modified food. We would like to point out that we
like to point out that we share our clients concerns…We
therefore request your utmost consideration and deliberation in
deciding the fate of Monsanto’s application.” —
PETRAM Private Limited Company.
Letter from PETRAM PLC to USDA Secretary Ann Veneman, May
30, 2003.
May 2003 —
“If genetically modified wheat is introduced in the United
States, we plan to void GM wheat. We therefore request your consideration
of these economic and market factors in deciding whether to allow
introduction of this product.” Ethiopian Flour Millers Association
Letter from Ethiopian Flour Millers Association to USDA Secretary
Ann Veneman, May 29, 2003.
May 2003 —
“If genetically modified wheat is introduced in the United
States, we plan to buy wheat from non-GM sources” D.H. Geda
Flour Factory PLC
Letter from D.H. Geda Flour Factory PLC to USDA Secretary
Ann Veneman, May 26, 2003.
May 2003 —
“Our company currently purchases wheat from Australia, USA
and other countries for use in pasta production. If genetically
modified wheat is introduced in the United States, we plan to
buy non-GMO sources. It would be regrettable if we could no longer
purchase wheat from the United States.” — Bekele Mekuria,
QC & Product Improvement Service head, Kaliti Food Share Company
Letter from Kaliti Food Share Company to USDA Secretary Ann
Veneman, May 29, 2003.
May 2003 —
“These days consumers world wide have serious concerns regarding
genetically modified foods and giving more price to organic foods.
As a business company we purchase only non GM wheat until all
doubts of consumers regarding the effect of GM wheat is cleared.”
— Amarebeth Alemu, Head A.A. Branch Office, Dire Dawa Food
Complex S. Co.
Letter from Dire Dawa Food Complex S. Co. to USDA Secretary
Ann Veneman, May 30, 2003.
