Brussels, 13/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - The standing committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health supported, on Tuesday 12 February, a European Commission proposal aimed at ensuring that Chinese rice products marketed in the European Union are not contaminated by Bt-63, an unauthorised GMO rice. Traces of genetically modified Bt-63 rice had been detected in 2007 and 2006 in France, the United Kingdom and Germany, especially in samples of Chinese rice noodles.
Measures aimed at preventing the Bt-63 rice from reaching the Community market will take effect as of 15 April 2008: - China is responsible for ensuring that Bt-63 does not enter the EU food chain. Each batch of Chinese rice must be accompanied by an analysis report certifying the absence of unauthorised Bt-63 (compulsory certification) in order to enter the Community market; - EU member states should control Chinese rice imports at their borders to prevent any contaminated batches reaching the EU market; - and EU member states will have to verify that products already on the Community market do not contain traces of the genetically modified Bt-63 rice. (L.C.)