Last Updated: March 23, 2004
October 2003 — “If
there is GM wheat, there is some potential for the collapse of
the U.S. wheat market in Japan.” — Tsutomu Shigeta,
executive director of Japan’s Flour Millers Association.
“Japan Wheat Buyers Warn Against Biotech Wheat in US”
October 9, 2003. Reuters.
June 2003 —
“Consumer acceptance is a serious issue in Asia. Japan is
really the key and it’s an area from where some of the greatest
concerns have been expressed.” — Alan Tracy, president
of U.S. Wheat Associates.
“U.S. Fears Asia May Not Be Ready For Biotech Wheat”
June 26, 2001. Reuters.
May 2003 —
"We, a consolidated consumers, organic farmers, food processors
of Japan, totaling 42 NGO's and 364,106 individuals as of May
1st, are strongly against GE wheat which not only contain Roundup
Ready resistant protein but also antibiotics and virus protein,
CaMV, all of them having potential of harming human health and
cause irreversible damage to the whole nature which we human are
part of. We will not eat nor buy even a piece of GE wheat nor
will allow one bit to step on to the land of Japan. Please stop
using GE wheat seeds and stay conventional the variety that we
have accepted and enjoyed. If any news that GE wheat is commercially
grown or intended to be grown reached us, we will launch a massive
rally either to give up wheat and return to our staple rice for
any purpose of grain use or to seek elsewhere for proven safe
edible wheat." — Katsumi Yamada, Director of Science,
Japan Organic Agriculture Association, on behalf of a coalition
of farmers and consumers against GE food in an email to the Institute
for Agriculture and Trade Policy, May 1, 2003.
September 2002 —
“Japanese consumers express deep concerns about safety of
GM farm products to human health and environment. Under the circumstances,
GM wheat is not acceptable to consumers. Japanese flour millers
declare firmly not to use any insecure wheat which may or may
not contain GM wheat. The Food Agency, as a wheat buyer, presumes
that the import of GM wheat would be almost impossible without
the consumer’s acceptance and flour miller’s demand,
even after Japan provided the regulatory safety approval of GM
wheat and the commercialization of GM wheat started. Furthermore,
Japan might have to switch to a different country which does not
produce any GM wheat by increasing pressure of customers…In
any case, adding to the opinion of producing country, it is very
important to pay more careful and more deliberate consideration
for consumer’s acceptance in an import country before GM
wheat is introduced.” — Japanese Food Agency
Response to a GM Wheat Customer Acceptance Survey by U.S.
Wheat Associates, September 30, 2002.
September 2002 —
“Japanese consumers are highly suspicious and skeptical
about safety of GM farm products, which may be hazardous to human
health and environment. Members of AJFBA will not use the flour
made of GM wheat. If GM wheat is commercialized, AJFBA will request
the [Japan} Food Agency to switch to a different wheat organization
that would not produce any GM wheat.” — All Japan
Federation of Bakers Association
Response to a GM Wheat Customer Acceptance Survey by U.S.
Wheat Associates, September 30, 2002.
September 2002 —
“As consumers in Japan have highly strong doubt about safety
of GM farm products to human health and environment, so they are
rejecting their intake of GM farm products. As long as Japanese
consumer resistance continues, Japan Biscuit Association has not
idea that our industry will use flour made of GM wheat.”
— Japan Biscuit Association
Response to a GM Wheat Customer Acceptance Survey by U.S.
Wheat Associates, September 30, 2002.
September 2002 —
“The single clear answer to this survey is ‘No, we
will not buy/use Roundup Ready wheat.’” — Japan’s
National Federation of Flour Wholesalers Association
Response to a GM Wheat Customer Acceptance Survey by U.S.
Wheat Associates, September 30, 2002.
October 2001—
Rooster News Network reports that Japan's Food Agency, which buys
grain, will not purchase genetically modified wheat: "Japan's
negative response…in the wake of the StarLink corn issue,
highlights the importance of U.S. industry and government coordination
on genetically engineered wheat development, safety assessment,
distribution and commercialization."
"Anti-GMO Sentiments Thrive Overseas," Dale McDonald,
October 26, 2001, Rooster News Network.
September 2001—
"We urge you to pass the Bill to restrict genetically modified
wheat seed. If the Bill is defeated in your Committee, and your
State allows introduction of genetically modified wheat seed,
then, wheat from North Dakota would lose its reliability in the
Japanese market. And unfortunately, we would have to boycott your
wheat. Since StarLink corn was found in our food, we lost confidence
in US agriculture commodities. Rejection of this Bill would only
lead to further loss of consumers' confidence not only in Japan
but in many other importing countries." — Mike Iba,
executive director Mike Iba, executive director of the Network
for Safe and Secure Food and Environment, Tokyo in a letter to
the Senate Agriculture Committee on behalf of 65 Japanese individuals
and organizations.
June 2001 — “All
leading food processing companies in Japan are very conscious
of consumers’ fear of genetically engineered foods. Market
leaders in all segments of the food industry are demanding GE-free
commodities, and the menus of major restaurant chains not their
foods are GE-free.” — Carole Burke, editor of Japan’s
Food Industry Bulletin.
“Saying No to Transgenic Crops” June 14, 2001.
Far Eastern Economic Review.
March 2001 —
“Under the circumstances, I strongly doubt that any bakery
and noodle products made from genetically modified wheat or even
conventional wheat that may contain modified wheat will be accepted
in the Japanese market…I believe that the production of
modified wheat at this time will be a very risky challenge for
U.S. producers.” — Tsumtoma Shigota, senior managing
director of the Japanese Flour Mills Association.
February 2, 2001. CropChoice News.
February 2001 —
"Japanese consumers are highly suspicious and skeptical about
safety of GM farm products, which may be hazardous to human health
and environment. Under the circumstances, flour millers strongly
doubt that any bakery, noodle and confectionary products made
of genetically engineered wheat or even conventional wheat that
many contain genetically engineered wheat will be accepted in
the Japanese market." — Japan Flour Millers Association
position statement.
"Japanese millers state opposition to GM wheat-group,"
Washington DC, February 22, 2001, Reuters.
January 2001 —
“Within the last month two more major customers –
Indonesia and Malaysia- have told the (Canadian) wheat board they
don’t want GM wheat in their imports from Canada, joining
others like Japan, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Algeria.”
January 18, 2001. The Western Producer.
June 2003 —
“We don’t want GMO wheat.” — Hi Sang Lee,
chairman of Korea Mills Industrial Association
“UK Miller finds transgenic wheat from U.S., pledges
against further GMO acceptance” June 11, 2003. High Plains
Journal.
May 2003 —
"If GM (genetically modified wheat) comes, consumers will
boycott all wheat." —Hi Sang Lee, chairman of Korea
Flour Mills Industrial Association, which represents all South
Korean flour mills.
"Korean miller: 'Consumer is king," Robert Schubert.
May 2, 2003. CropChoice News.
May 2003 —
"We don't openly talk about GM wheat because then the NGOs
(non-governmental organizations) will start protesting, so we
talk silently. I think consumers will boycott the whole wheat
industry. Millers have no choice, consumers do. If the consumers
don't accept GM wheat, then the millers won't. The consumer is
king." — Dong Jin Chung, senior vice chairman of Korea
Flour Mills Industrial Association and president of the Daehan
Flour Mills, Co.
"Korean miller: 'Consumer is king," Robert Schubert.
May 2, 2003. CropChoice News.
Philippines
May
2003 — “In Korea, we do not want to discuss
biotech wheat.” — Dong Jin Chung, president of Daehan
Flour Mills
“South Korean wheat buyers warn US against biotech”
May 2, 2003. Reuters.
June 2002 —
"Two years ago, when we went to talk to the Philippine flour
industry about GM wheat, they didn't know what it was. This year,
the first words out of their mouths were 'don't send us GM wheat."
Dawn Forsythe, US Wheat Associates Public Affairs Director.
"Farmer wants ND to ensure protection of foundation wheat
seed stocks" June 13, 2002 CropChoice News.
June 2002 —
“In the Middle East, the more they hear (about GM wheat)
the more averse they become.” — Dawn Forsythe, U.S.
Wheat Associates.
June 13, 2002. CropChoice News.
