Washington, DC
October 5, 2007
The lack of significant findings
in today’s U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) report of its investigation into
how genetically engineered traits entered the U.S. commercial
rice supply underscores the correctness of industry action taken
after Aug. 18, 2006, USA Rice
Federation officials said today.
On that date, USDA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) jointly announced the discovery of a trace presence of
Bayer CropScience Liberty Link traits in U.S. long-grain rice.
While both agencies emphasized that the rice was safe for human
and feed consumption, the trace presence was enough to disrupt
U.S. rice exports on a wide scale, including the effective
exclusion of U.S. long-grain rice from the EU market.
Today’s APHIS report comes nearly 14 months after former USDA
Secretary Mike Johanns directed APHIS to conduct “a complete and
thorough investigation.” However, the report fails to find “the
exact mechanism for introduction” of LL traits into the
commercial rice supply and APHIS was “unable to make any
definitive determination that could have resulted in enforcement
action,” according to a news release the agency issued today.
The report points to the need for increased corporate
responsibility and stewardship by the biotechnology industry.
“Given the lack of meaningful explanation by APHIS into what
caused the Liberty Link (LL) traits to be in the U.S. supply,
the push by the USA Rice Federation for uniform testing of U.S.
rice and the aggressive promulgation of a seed plan to eliminate
the LL traits from the U.S. commercial supply were the right
things to do,” USA Rice Federation Chairman Al Montna said
today. “USA Rice leadership on this matter was essential.
Imagine if we had waited for the APHIS report before taking
decisive action.”
Testing results as of September 30 for the 2007 southern
long-grain rice crop continue to show the overwhelming absence
of genetically engineered Liberty Link (LL) traits.
“Let’s recognize the arduous work of all rice farmers involved
in the implementation of this plan,” Montna said. “While we
continue to be vigilant, their efforts to recover the ground
taken by the release of Liberty Link traits into the commercial
supply are a credit to the greatness of this industry.”
“Rice farmers have done and are doing everything they can to
produce a Liberty Link-free crop,” USA Rice Producers’ Group
Chairman Paul T. Combs said today. “We have made remarkable
progress so far, exceeding expectations for the first year.”
“The ultimate proof of the plan’s success will be tied to the
industry’s ability to reopen markets that have been closed to
U.S. rice or in which costly restrictions have been imposed on
the U.S. rice export trade,” Montna said.
The USA Rice Federation is the global advocate for all
segments of the U.S. rice industry with a mission to promote and
protect the interests of producers, millers, merchants and
allied businesses.
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