Low-Level Presence of New GM Crops : An Issue on the Rise for Countries Where They Lack Approval

Abstract

This study addresses a new issue in the commercialization of GM crops, namely the occurrence of traces -- or "low-level presence" (LLP) -- of nationally unapproved GM material in crop imports. The commercialization of GM crops is a regulated activity, and countries have different authorization procedures. Hence, new GM crops are not approved simultaneously. This "asynchronous approval" (AA), in combination with a "zero-tolerance" policy towards LLP, is of growing concern for its potential economic impact on international trade.