Japan stops buying certain US wheat varieties over GMO concerns

CHICAGO: Japan has stopped buying feed wheat and western white wheat produced in certain parts of the United States after unapproved genetically modified plants from Monsanto Co seeds were found growing in Washington state, a spokeswoman for the US Department of Agriculture said on Monday.

The agency spokeswoman said Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (MAFF) said that until it can begin testing incoming shipments, it will suspend future purchases of all Western White wheat from the United States for food use; suspend future purchases of Western White wheat from the West Coast, but not from the Gulf, for feed use; and suspend distribution of all previously purchased US wheat until testing is established.

Copyright Reuters, 2016