MONSANTO SENDS USDA NEW BIOTECH WHEAT PETITION

Will wait for farmers and consumers ok

Withdrawing its original 2002 petition but submitting a new request, Monsanto has asked again for USDA to approve "deregulated status" for the world's first genetically modified wheat.

Monsanto called the new petition a revised version "cleaned up and less cumbersome" -- of the original request for approval for Roundup Ready wheat filed in December, 2002, but media reports indicate the new petition includes information asked for by regulators since the original filing.

Several overseas flour millers have expressed concern over genetically modified wheat and have warned the U.S. that if approved, they may seek supplies elsewhere.

Monsanto has said consistently that even if approved, it would not market the GM wheat until consumers and farmers were OK with it.