NZ Authorities Asked to Test for GE Rice

NZ Authorities Asked to Test for GE Rice after US Authorities Announce GE Contamination of Rice

Food Authorities in New Zealand and Australia are being urged to test imported rice for GE contamination following an announcement by US Department of Agricultue and the FDA that Bayer's LL601 GE rice has accidentally entered the food supply. Work on this GE rice is understood to have been terminated some years ago , though he reasons for this are unclear.

Nor has LL601 been approved for release in the US, Austalia, or New Zealand. "This is an important test of the systems in place to protect the food supply in New Zealand," says Jon Carapiet from GE-Free NZ (in food and environment).

"Food authorities must take action to identify what contamination has taken place. But our fear is that the system to test and recall contaminated product is simply inadequate."

This latest incident must be taken as a further warning to government that all is not well in regulation of the food supply. As well as testing for illegal chemical contamination of imported food as the Green party, National Party and anti-cancer groups have called for , random testing for illegal and potentially life-threatening GE contamination is also required.

ENDS

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