New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) has ensured the withdrawal of a
rice product imported into New Zealand that has tested positive for trace
quantities of the unauthorised genetically modified (GM) rice variety, Bt63.
NZFSA is not aware of any health concerns for the product, however, Bt63 is
not approved for sale in food in New Zealand as it has not had a Food
Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) safety assessment.


The importer of the affected product has been contacted and has undertaken
to voluntarily remove any remaining product from sale and ensure that
further imports meet New Zealand standards.

NZFSA began testing rice products available to New Zealand consumers in
March 2008 following an announcement earlier this year by the European
Commission (EC) and the UK Food Standards Agency (UKFSA) that they were
working to address the presence of the GM rice variety Bt63 in rice products
imported from China.

Given the situation in Europe, the fact that New Zealand imports significant
amounts of similar rice products annually, and as Bt63 is not approved under
Standard 1.5.2 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, NZFSA
tested a range of such products available in New Zealand to determine
whether there was a compliance issue here.

Fourteen samples were taken of the types of products which had triggered the
EC response. Of these samples one product â?" imported rice vermicelli â?"
contained trace quantities of Bt63. GM trace indicators were found in 10
other samples at or below the level of detection and these are being
investigated to clarify their source.

The UKFSA has noted that it is not aware of any specific health implications
for consumers who eat rice products containing Bt63
(http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2008/mar/rice). Based on knowledge
of the GM component (called a transgene) in the rice, NZFSA also considers
it unlikely that consumption of Bt63 rice at the trace levels identified in
New Zealand poses a public health risk.

NZFSA is further investigating this particular instance and is developing an
enhanced programme to monitor and verify compliance with New Zealand
requirements. NZFSA is also working closely with authorities in China. China
prohibits the export of GM rice and tests all exports for the presence of GM
product in export shipments. NZFSA is therefore working with the relevant
Chinese authorities to identify the source of this particular import into
New Zealand and to track down how GM rice came to be detected in this
shipment.

When the original concerns were raised and samples were collected, importers
of rice products were reminded that only approved GM products can be sold in
New Zealand and that any food containing GM ingredients must be
appropriately labelled. NZFSA is contacting importers again to advise them
that Bt63 has been identified and alert them to the types of products that
may be affected. They are also reminded of their obligations under the Food
Act 1981 to comply with the Food Standards Code.

NZFSA is looking at ways that compliance can best be demonstrated by
importers and is also exploring a range of additional options for ensuring
that New Zealand requirements are met in future.
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