US RICE CONTAMINATION CRISES CONTINUES
Bridges Trade BioRes, Vol. 7 No. 5, 16 March 2007

Unauthorised genetically modified material has again contaminated US rice. According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), seed of CL131 -- an approved GM rice variety -- contains "trace levels of genetic material not yet approved for commercialisation." The unauthorised genetic material in question is LLRICE601, developed by Bayer CropScience. The discovery of trace levels of the same material led to Japan and EU halting rice imports from US at the end of the 2006 growing season (see Bridges Trade BioRes, 8 September 2006, http://www.ictsd.org/biores/06-09-08/story1.htm). Now, the USDA is asking farmers and seed dealers to destroy the contaminated seed or planted rice.
Meanwhile, Mexico, which is the largest buyer of US rice, has halted imports at the border. Again, the reason is potential LLRICE601 contamination, with the Mexican government asking for certification that their rice imports are uncontaminated. This is the first time Mexico has taken such precautionary measures with regard to potential GM contamination.
The US exported rice to the tune of USD205 million to Mexico last year. It considers LLRICE601 safe for human consumption.
"GM rice withdrawn from US market," ALLABOUTFEED.NET, 12 March 2007; "Mexico testing US rice for GMO strain," REUTERS, 15 March 2007; "Mexico closes border to U.S. GM rice," FARM FUTURES, 16 March 2007.

Web Link: http://www.ictsd.org/biores/07-03-16/index.htm