Illegal genetically engineered rice in Canada ?

Greenpeace demands that the Canadian government immediately suspendthe approval of all genetically engineered rice. American authoritiesrecently confirmed that the genetically modified rice LLRice601,produced by Bayer CropScience, was found in the food chain, despite notbeing approved for consumption or cultivation in Canada or the U.S.LLRice601 is currently being tested in experimental fields in theUnited States which may be the source of the contamination.

"Canada imports 232,000 tonnes of rice from the U.S. annually.It is quite probable therefore that LLRice601 (which is illegal) ispresent in the food chain in Canada," says Eric Darier, Greenpeace GMOcampaigner.

"It is scandalous, no less than 10 days after the Canadiangovernment has authorized the LIRice62 for sale, we hear from the samecompany Bayer CropScience, that the food chain in the United States hasbeen contaminated by the illegal rice strain LLRice601," reminds EricDarier.

"We must ask ourselves some serious questions. Either thegovernment authorities are totally incompetent and are not able toprevent genetic contamination by unapproved GE, and by consequenceshould not be authorizing their dissemination into the environment atall, or the contamination is a deliberate "accident" that allowscompanies like Bayer CropScience to obtain government approvals afterthe fact."

"The Canadian government must immediately put in place emergencymeasures to prevent the spread of LLRice601 into the Canadian foodchain and follow the example of Japan which has just suspended all U.S.rice imports. The Canadian government must especially review its policytowards GE crops, since Canadian consumers have made it clear that theydon't want them. If there were mandatory GE labelling on consumer foodproducts, as there are in forty other countries, it would at least beeasier for the authorities to trace back and prevent illegal GEcontamination," concludes Eric Darier.