18 February 2008
THIRD WORLD NETWORK BIOSAFETY INFORMATION SERVICE
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
RE: EU Cracks Down on Contaminated Rice from China
The European Commission has announced emergency measures to prevent the
import of rice and rice products contaminated with the unauthorized GM
rice Bt63, following its latest discovery in rice products from China.
Bt63 rice contamination was discovered back in 2006. However, despite
steps taken by the Chinese authorities, a number of cases of
contamination were reported in November last year in Europe, prompting
the European Commission to declare its latest emergency measures to
filter out contaminated rice and rice products from China.
As of April 15, only rice and rice products which feature on a special
EU-approved list and which have been certified as Bt63-free by
EU-approved labs will be allowed into the member countries. The list
covers a long list of products, including husked and polished brown and
white rice, rice flour, noodles, rice paper, rice starch, and unroasted
mueslis. The measures will be reviewed after six months.
With best wishes,
Third World Network
131 Jalan Macalister,
10400 Penang,
Malaysia
Email: twnet@po.jaring.my
Website: www.biosafety-info.net and www.twnside.org.sg
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
