Seed and agrochemical giant Monsanto has provided European authorities with information on how to detect its Roundup Ready wheat.

The genetically modified wheat was discovered growing on a farm in Oregon last week, around a decade after it was last trialled in the region. The wheat was trialled repeatedly around the Unites States by developer Monsanto, but was abandoned without being approved by US authorities due to a lack of demand.

In the wake of the discovery, a number of trade partners suspended imports of wheat and the EU Commission demanded information to allow food safety agencies to test for the wheat. However, according to news agency Reuters, it will be two weeks before imports into Europe can be tested for the rogue wheat. Earlier this week Taiwanese authorities stated their intention to test wheat imports.

An EU official, speaking from the Health Commission, said that the EU authorities had received information on a testing method on Saturday (1st June), and that, once the method was operational, the EU would begin testing all incoming wheat shipments, blocking any that are found to contain traces of the unauthorised wheat.