Brussels, 19/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the European Commission will propose to Member States that all imports of American long grain rice, certified free of GMOs not authorised in the EU, be systematically tested, to determine if this is indeed the case.
Having failed to negotiate a common sampling and testing protocol on American rice exported to the EU, for the possible presence of the banned LL 601, the Commission had no other choice but to take this measure, which was approved by the College of Commissioners on 4 October as an alternative solution if the talks with the Americans were to fail (see EUROPE 9279).
“Every day we are informed of positive tests,” said Philip Tod, spokesman for Markos Kyprianou, Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner, on Thursday, as he told press of the measures.
The draft decision on compulsory testing carried out by national control authorities will be put to experts from Member States sitting on the EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health. It will cover not only transgenic rice LL 601, made by Bayer, but also LL602, another GMO banned in the EU but detected by French authorities when testing.
Testing should take place at the points of entry into the EU, and the additional costs of such testing are to be borne by the exporters. (an)