Brussels, 12/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - Both France and Sweden have detected American rice GMO LL601, which is banned in the EU, on their markets. These findings have now to be verified using other analyses. A diplomatic source said on Tuesday that, using generic screening, these two Member States had detected traces of the GMO in rice samples. This will only be confirmed if there are positive findings using one of the two validated detection methods for LL601.
EU experts on the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (GMO Unit) and the European Commission were informed on 11 September, at a meeting in Brussels to take stock of the LL601 affair, which could possibly have seen contaminated foodstuffs on the EU market (see EUROPE 9255). The aim was to have a clearer understanding of the situation by sharing the available information on control and monitoring measures put in place by Member States and the agrifood industry. Most Member States said they did not have the results of the tests carried out by their laboratories and would have to wait a further week or two before being able to provide detailed information. Those which had begun testing using validated methods had not had any positive results for LL601 rice to date. All Member States reported effective application of the emergency measures laid down by the Commission decision of 23 August, which requires national border controls to verify that imports of long grain rice from the USA are certified as being free from LL601 rice. No consignment without the proper certification has entered the EU market, and certain Member States are carrying out additional checks on certified rice consignments at their borders.
Of the suspected consignments of rice detained in Rotterdam (see EUROPE 9255), the results of the tests hitherto carried out by the Dutch authorities have been positive for three barges still being held, with a view to their being returned to the United States or destroyed. On the other hand, the results have been negative for twenty other barges, which have been allowed to continue to their destinations.
As for the alert sounded by Greenpeace International on food products contaminated with an experimental Chinese GMO, in France, Germany and the United Kingdom (see EUROPE 9258), the European Commission is awaiting confirmation. It has requested that all relevant information and positive samples be sent to the competent authorities of Member States with a view to verifying the findings.