The loading of soybeans destined for China will be called off because they had been contaminated by fungicides in the silo, the Brazilian government announced Wednesday.

The announcement was made by Interim Agricultural Minister Amauri Dimarzio after he inspected two of the four port terminals for soybean loading.

The two terminals in the southwestern state of Rio Grande del Sur belong to the Central Gaucha de Lacteos Cooperative (CCGL), which have the capacity of 500,000 tons of grains.

China recently rejected soybean shipments from Brazil because they were partially contaminated.

The Brazilian soybeans destined to be used as seeds have been treated with fungicides, making it inappropriate for human consumption.

Representative of the producers in Rio Grande del Sur, Francisco Signor, said that the mixture of some grain seeds and the soybeans for human consumption could not be completely avoided,and the proportion was too low to affect consumers' health.

He said producers want the ministry to apply the international criteria. "We do not want privileges but we do not accept discrimination," Signor said, explaining the quantity found was half of the one permitted internationally.

Source: Xinhua