On GMO Wheat Concerns, Japan Suspends Imports

WASHINGTONJapan is aware that genetically-engineered wheat was recently found on an Oregon farm. The country is said to have suspended some imports of western white wheat and feed-grade wheat from the Pacific Northwest.

In most countries the unapproved genetically modified wheat would be a target of concern," Katsuhiro Saka, a counselor at the Japanese Embassy in Washington, said in an Associated Press article. The Japanese people have similar kinds of concerns."

The development occurred after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an investigation into the presence of genetically-modified wheat that had not been approved for commercial production or sale. Testing indicated the wheat was the same variety that Monsanto Company had been authorized to test in 16 states from 1998 through 2005, the agency said.

The discovery was brought to the attention of USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service by an Oregon State University scientist who sampled the crop after a farmer detected wheat that had not been intentionally planted. The government doesn't believe the farmer did anything wrong.