The EU is to tighten its rules governing the import of rice from China after claiming shipments had reached the continent containing a banned GM ingredient.
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The European Commission said rice products from China containing the genetically modified rice Bt 63 were found in the EU in 2006 and 2007.
From 15 April, only rice products that meet specific criteria will be allowed to enter the EU.
Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said: “Under EU food safety legislation, only GMOs, which have undergone a thorough scientific assessment and authorisation procedure, may be put on the EU market.”
Rice products that are thought to contain the banned ingredient will need “compulsory certification” to enter the EU.
Rice containing the banned ingredient was first discovered in the UK, France and Germany in 2006.
China then moved to tighten its controls and banned exports from companies discovered to be shipping the rice.
Nevertheless, the EU said, rice containing Bt 63 still ended up in the bloc late last year.
