News

GM Rice detected in German Supermarket

Once more, unauthorised GM rice has entered the EU and found its way into the retail food sector and appeared for sale at branches of discount supermarket Aldi, environment group Greenpeace said on Monday. The U.S. Agriculture Department said it is too soon to determine how much of an unapproved genetically modified rice strain has entered the food supply after tests in the European Union and Germany detected traces of the rice.

Reuters: Tainted biotech rice found in Germany

Reuters: EU confirms presence of tainted GMO rice

Reuters: US still gauging how much GMO rice entered market

EU Press Release: GM rice situation reviewed at the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

GM Rice: Contaminated Rice from China detected in the EU

Greenpeace International released findings that show illegal GE rice from China has contaminated food products in France, Germany and the UK. Five samples out of 27 tested positive for the unauthorised rice strain. The illegal GM rice is an experimental variety genetically engineered to produce an insecticide. It is not approved for human consumption or commercial cultivation anywhere in the world. The EU does not yet permit the sale, import or marketing of any biotech rice on the territory of its 25 member countries. This is the second illegal rice case in three weeks.

Reuters: Gene-Altered Rice from China Found in EU

Greenpeace: Illegal genetically engineered Chinese rice discovered in Europe

Austria forced to lift ban on GM maize

Austria may soon face an order to lift its bans on two genetically modified types of maize now that its presidency of the 25-country European Union has run its course, diplomats and officials said on Thursday.

Reuters: EU May Order Austria to Lift Ban on GMO Maize Types

US rice farmers started lawsuit against Bayer

Rice farmers in Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and California have sued Bayer CropScience, alleging its genetically modified rice has contaminated the crop, attorneys for the farmers said on Monday.

Reuters: US rice farmers sue Bayer CropScience over GM rice

US: New bill to block local GMO bans

California Republicans and Democrats joined forces to approve a bill that would prevent local governments from banning genetically modified crops. The legislation, backed by the California Farm Bureau Federation and large agribusiness concerns such as Monsanto passed the Assembly with a 46-19 bipartisan majority.

Monterey Herald: Genetic crop bill OK'd by Assembly

GM Rice: USDA certifies detection test

USDA on Thursday certified tests from Bayer CropScience that detects when an unapproved genetically modified rice known as LLRICE 601 is present in commercial rice. One test could cost as much as $300, but it is uncertain who will pay for the testing, U.S. Agriculture Department said.

Reuters: Test to detect Bayer GMO rice could cost $300: USDA

EU takes action to stop illegal rice imports from the US

The European Commission has adopted a decision requiring imports of long grain rice from the USA to be certified as free from the unauthorised GMO LL Rice 601. The emergency measures adopted by the Commission mean that, with immediate effect, only consignments of US long grain rice that have been tested by an accredited laboratory using a validated testing method and accompanied by a certificate assuring the absence of LL Rice 601, can enter the EU.

Commission requires certification of US rice exports to stop unauthorised GMO entering the EU