The USA Rice Federation today released a recommended plan of action to remove genetically engineered rice from the U.S. supply to re-establish a marketable supply of U.S. rice.

Following U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Mike Johanns’ August 18, 2006, announcement of the trace presence of genetically engineered (GE) rice in the commercial supply, the USA Rice Federation has worked with industry and government officials to identify the Bayer CropScience Liberty Link traits and to mitigate their market effects.

“The action plan released today proposes urgent, concrete steps to be taken to restore market confidence,” declared Al Montna, a California rice producer and chairman of the USA Rice Federation. “We are requesting that state authorities take specific actions to ensure that commercial seed supplies for the 2007 crop have tested negative for the presence of Liberty Link (LL) genetically engineered traits. The plan also makes recommendations to all segments of the rice industry to further ensure that Liberty Link traits do not appear in the rice supply from 2007 forward,” Montna said.

“A specially appointed USA Rice Federation committee headed by Brian King, chairman of the USA Rice Merchants Association developed the plan,” Montna said. “The committee included individuals from all segments of the rice industry over the last month, and we encourage in the strongest terms that the industry — and appropriate state authorities — take action so we may achieve the goal of removing all genetically engineered traits from the 2007 crop,” Montna said.

These actions are recommended despite statements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the food safety organizations in foreign markets that the GE rice at issue is safe for human consumption.

The closure of Europe and other markets to U.S. long-grain rice, and the imminent threat of closure or onerous testing in other markets, makes the promulgation of this action plan an immediate and necessary act of leadership, Montna said. “This is a plan for rice only, and it is ambitious so that our industry can get back to doing what it does best — growing and marketing rice — rather than engaging us and our customers in endless testing.”

“The economic viability of all segments of the rice industry are in jeopardy,” said USA Rice Producers Group Chairman Paul T. Combs. “We must show leadership and act decisively to solve this problem and restore stability in the marketplace,”

“Producers continue to be burdened as a result of the genetically engineered rice discovery, and it is imperative that we do everything in our power to stop GE rice production until such time as there is widespread regulatory approval and consumer acceptance in markets,” Combs continued. “But let’s clearly understand that all industry segments continue to share a financial burden resulting from the LL presence in long-grain rice.”

The Task Group recommendations call for:

• A standard seed-testing protocol for the detection of the presence of Liberty Link (LL) traits for all head row / breeder and foundation seed with test samples pulled by state certifying agencies using state-approved methods 
• Each seed processor to agree to submit samples with a state seed-certifying agency number to one of the Bayer-approved and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration (GIPSA) proficiency-tested labs.
• No Cheniere rice seed to be sold for rice production in 2007 and no 2007 crop-year Cheniere to be accepted at the first point of delivery; the allowance that buyers may accept 2006 crop-year Cheniere until July 31, 2007
• An allowance for an increase of Cheniere rice seed production in 2007 for 2008 and 2009 seed stocks provided that all such seed stocks are certified negative for LL traits
• State agencies to notify all seed processors, growers and dealers of these requirements and the need for certification
• Growers to provide, and first points of delivery to receive, documentation certifying GMO-negative results, with the Association of Official Seed Certification Agents to provide all LL-negative certification for commercial seed and USDA-GIPSA to certify that the process was completed under accepted protocols.

“The action plan we are proposing here is a living document,” Montna explained. “As a the industry learns more from the USDA investigation, scientists, customers and other industry experts, we will amend the recommendations as necessary and communicate those adjustments to the industry.”

Document detailing the recommendations summarized above: http://www.usarice.com/industry/communication/SeedRecs.pdf. 

USA Rice Federation is the national advocate for all segments of the rice industry, conducting activities to influence government programs, developing and initiating programs to increase worldwide demand for U.S. rice, and providing other services to increase profitability for all industry segments.