Bayer Withholds Oat Chemical

WASHINGTON - May 11/04 - SNS -- Bayer CropScience's decision to withhold the fungicide Stratego from the Canadian market until it is approved for use on oats in the United States pleased the North American Millers' Association (NAMA),

The fungicide was approved for use up to 45 days prior to harvest on wheat, oats and barley in Canada, but only on wheat in the U.S. Hence, any Canadian oats or oat products with residues of Stratego would have been considered adulterated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

NAMA president Betsy Faga said "We're very pleased that Bayer has done the right thing, and we congratulate them for it. U.S. oat millers and Canadian oat farmers rely on each other. We need their oats, and they need us since the U.S. milling industry buys more than 95 percent of their oat exports."

NAMA staff and counsel have been holding discussions with Bayer executives since March. NAMA had asked Bayer to withhold Stratego from the Canadian market pending U.S. registration of the product for oats.

Faga continued, "Safety and wholesomeness are non-negotiable. While Stratego residues would likely have presented no risk, the perceptions of the industry's customers are of the highest importance."