US honey producers have warned an EU ruling on pollen could flood the US market with imports.
The European Court of Justice has ruled honey made from GM-pollen would require special authorisation for sale in the EU.
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Richard Adee, the Washington legislative committee chairman at the American Honey Producers Association, said the ruling could disrupt global honey markets.
He said the September judgement had already restricted honey exports to the EU from countries with widespread GM crops, such as Argentina and Canada.
“They may start dumping honey on the US market and might drive our market to the bottom,” he warned.
The EU imported US$96m of worth of honey from Argentina in 2010 and US$108m in 2009.
“I would like Europe to get some sense and realise that GM crops will have to be accepted,” said Adee.
US diplomats speaking at the World Trade Organisation this week, echoed those concerns, backed by honey exporters from countries including Argentina, Canada and Brazil.
The countries told the WTO the Codex Alimentarius international standard does not treat pollen as an ingredient and urged the EU to “remove the trade obstacle”, said a diplomat.
