Japan purchases US wheat for first time since GMO discovery

Japan bought 89,579 metric tons of US wheat yesterday, the first purchase since the government banned imports on May 30 in response to the discovery of GMO wheat in a field in Oregon. The wheat variety was developed by Monsanto, but has not been approved for commercial use. The Japanese government says it has established a system to detect the genetically modified variety before it leaves the US, and US cargoes will also be tested on their arrival to Japan. The sale of genetically modified crops that haven't been confirmed safe by the healthy ministry is banned in Japan.