TURKISH BIOTECH REGULATION PUBLISHED, U.S. AG

UNCLAS ANKARA 001544 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR E, EEB/TPP/BTA, EUR/SE DEPT PLEASE PASS USTR FOR CWILSON AND MMOWREY NSC FOR BBRINK FAS FOR OCRA/BROWN AND NENON, OSTA/CHESLEY, PORTER, AND JONES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO EAGR ECON ETRD TU SUBJECT: TURKISH BIOTECH REGULATION PUBLISHED, U.S. AG TRADE DISRUPTIONS EXPECTED REF: ANKARA 1473 This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) On October 26, the GOT published the biotechnology regulation described in reftel. The regulation is effective immediately (vice the 6 month implementation period reported earlier) and could affect up to USD 1 billion worth of U.S. agricultural exports. Apart from the effective date, the published regulation differs only minimally from what was reported in reftel. ¶2. (SBU) On October 15, EEB/CBA Special Representative Lorraine Hariton raised the issue with Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, and Ambassador Jeffrey followed up with a detailed letter to Babacan on the same day. Subsequently, Ambassador Jeffrey has tried to reach Babacan by telephone and also requested a meeting with Agriculture Minister Mehdi Eker, who is in Saudi Arabia until October 28. Sub-Cabinet officials have declined Ag Counselor's requests for meetings. ¶3. (SBU) Turkish food and feed sector companies have all tried to lodge protests against the regulation with relevant officials. Textile companies and cotton traders are also investigating whether cotton will be affected by the new rules. Bizarrely, the regulation also calls for testing of wheat along with soy and corn, even though there is no genetically-engineered wheat in production. ¶4. (SBU) Action Request: Post believes USTR should consider an immediate request for WTO consultations in Geneva, as the regulation itself, as well as its publication without notification, violates many aspects of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement. JEFFREY "Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.s gov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turkey"