www.checkbiotech.org ; www.raupp.info ; www.czu.cz

The European Commission?s decision to require testing of all imports of U.S.
long grain rice is an ?overreaction? that will only result in the denial of
a safe product to northern European rice millers, USA Rice Federation
officials said, October 2006 by Forrest Laws.

The European Commission?s decision to require testing of all imports of
U.S. long grain rice is an ?overreaction? that will only result in the
denial of a safe product to northern European rice millers, USA Rice
Federation officials said. The European Commission?s Standing Committee on
the Food Chain announced the decision earlier this week following extended
negotiations between USDA and EC representatives following the discovery of
unapproved GMO rice in U.S. commercial rice.

?The decision yesterday (Oct. 23) by an European Commission committee to
impose mandatory testing in all imports of U.S. long-grain rice entering the
European Union is an unfortunate overreaction to a commodity that
governments ? including the EU ? have already declared safe for human
consumption,? said Al Montna, USA Rice chairman.

?The Commission is imposing an overzealous testing regime on a product for
which such strictures are unnecessary. The net result of this decision is
the denial to European consumers of wholesome U.S. rice, the economic
consequences of which are clearly avoidable.?

USA Rice officials said they were grateful for the efforts by a team of U.S.
negotiators, led by Floyd Gaibler, acting undersecretary of agriculture for
farm and foreign agricultural services.

?While we are extremely disappointed that European officials were unable to
agree to a practical and commercially viable solution on the issue of
testing, we are very appreciative of the prolonged and aggressive
negotiation done on behalf of the U.S. rice industry by U.S. officials,?
said Carl Brothers, chairman of USA Rice International Trade Policy
Committee and senior vice president, Riceland Foods, Inc.

?We look forward to working again with government officials during the
review period that will begin early next year as provided by the Standing
Committee?s action. The U.S. rice industry believes it is in everyone?s
interest, from U.S. rice producers and exporters to EU rice importers,
consumers and the EU Commission to resolve this issue so that trade can
resume,? Brothers said.

In August, laboratory tests confirmed that a sample of 2003 foundation seed
rice of the variety Cheniere grown by the LSU AgCenter contained a trace
amount of genetic material from LL601 ? a LibertyLink genetically modified
rice.

[deltafarmpress.com]

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