The move by Cert ID Europe comes following the company’s continual monitoring of potential cross contaminants to soya and the identification of cotton as a prominent issue.  From 1 November 2011, all Indian Soya products being certified by Cert ID Europe for non GM will also be tested using PCR methodology for the presence of the cotton gene.

Richard Werran, Cert ID Europe’s Managing Director and an expert on GM explains:
 

“India maintains a strong biotech mandate and continues to develop, trial, release and cultivate unique GM cotton varieties for which no EU approval has been, or will be sought. Likewise any testing methodologies for these GMOs are not in the public domain.

For Indian soya companies supplying Europe, potential cross contamination can cause a real issue: not only does Europe have strict policies with regard to GM but many of the GM cotton varieties being grown are not approved and have a zero tolerance. Clearly any testing and subsequent certification needs to recognise the cotton issue.”

The new testing strategy from Cert ID Europe will ensure exclusion of GM cotton from both production and the supply chain, enabling Indian clients to demonstrate compliance with EU GM regulations. In addition, EU ingredient buyers, major brand and retailers can also be assured that Indian soya products certificated through Cert ID Europe have been robustly screened for cotton contamination.
 

For more details and information on changes to the test protocol contact Maria Taylor, Certification Manager at Cert ID Europe maria.taylor@cert-id.eu