Home > FOOD STANDARD AGENCY FACES LEGAL CHALLENGE OVER GM-CONTAMINATED RICE

FOOD STANDARD AGENCY FACES LEGAL CHALLENGE OVER GM-CONTAMINATED RICE

by Open-Publishing - Tuesday 19 September 2006
1 comment

GMO International Food

Friends of the Earth Friends of the Earth has taken the first step
in mounting a legal challenge to the UK Food Standards Agency for
its failure to take appropriate action to prevent illegal GM rice
from being sold to the public. The challenge coincides with the
discovery, by the environmental campaign group, of GM-contaminated
rice in two types of own-brand rice sold by British supermarket,
Morrisons [1].

Friends of the Earth sent a number of rice samples for testing
after it was revealed last month that US long grain rice has been
widely contaminated from GM rice grown in experimental trials
(Bayer CropScience’s LLRICE 601). The test does not confirm that
the GM contamination is LLRICE 601, but as no GM rice has been
approved for consumption in the EU, any presence of GM rice is
illegal.

Following the US contamination incident the EU introduced
emergency measures to prevent contaminated rice from entering the
European food chain [2]. LLRICE 601 GM rice has not been
authorised for human consumption anywhere in the world. Markos
Kyprianou, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer
Protection, said There is no flexibility for unauthorised GMOs -
these cannot enter the EU food and feed chain under any
circumstances [3].

However, a leaked memo reveals that the UK Food Standards Agency
(FSA) has privately told food retailers and manufacturers that it
does not expect them to test for contamination, or to remove any
contaminated rice from their shelves [4]. The FSA is only
planning to test some rice at mills for contamination, meaning
that any contaminated rice that is already in shops or warehouses
may not be detected and may be sold to unsuspecting consumers. The
FSA also claims that the illegal rice poses no safety concerns and
that there are no human health implications [5] when in fact it
has not undergone a proper safety assessment. The European Food
Safety Authority stated on Friday, there is insufficient data to
provide a full risk assessment in accordance with EFSA’s GM
guidance [6].

Friends of the Earth believes that the FSA has acted unlawfully in
its failure to act adequately on this issue. The environmental
campaign group has written the FSA a formal legal letter before
action [7], which is the first step in bringing a judicial review.

Friends of the Earth’s Head of Legal, Phil Michaels, said:

The Food Standards Agency’s response to this GM contamination
incident is scandalous and, we believe, unlawful. It has failed
to act adequately to prevent illegal GM rice reaching our plates
and has failed to provide accurate advice and information as it is
required to do by law. Instead it has cncentrated on playing down
the seriousness of the issue and minimising the effect on
business. We have now resorted to legal action to force the FSA
to do its job properly and to ensure that adequate steps are taken
to protect UK consumers from illegal GM-contaminated food.

Friends of the Earth’s GM campaigner, Clare Oxborrow said:

The discovery of GM-contaminated rice on supermarket shelves is
extremely worrying. GM rice has not been approved for human
consumption in Europe, so it is illegal to sell it. This
discovery is unlikely to be an isolated incident. Retailers must
ensure that their food is free from unauthorised GM material, and
remove contaminated products from their shelves.

This latest contamination incident highlights the risks associated
with GM technology, and exposes the biotech companies’ failure to
control their products. The UK Government must draw up tough
rules to prevent any contamination before it even considers
allowing GM crops to be grown here. The best way to protect our
food, farming and environment from GM pollution is to keep Britain
GM-free.

The UK Government is currently holding a public consultation to
determine what rules will be needed to grow GM crops commercially
in England [8]. Friends of the Earth is urging people to respond
at
www.stopgmcontamination.org[1]
<http://www.stopgmcontamination.org[1]> .

[1] Testing was carried out by an independent laboratory. A total
of six samples were tested from different manufacturers. It
revealed that the two Morrisons samples were contaminated with GM
traits. The test does not confirm that the GM contamination is
LLRICE 601, but there is no GM rice approved in the EU, so any
presence of GM rice is illegal.
>
The affected products are:
* Morrisons American Long Grain Rice 500g, Best before May 2008
* Morrisons American Long Grain Brown Rice 1kg, Best before: Jul
2008

Morrisons have issued a statement saying they have withdrawn the
two products as a precautionary measure.

[2]
http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/eu_clamps_down_on
_gm_rice_23082006.html[2]

[3]http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference
=IP/06/1120format=HTMLaged=0language=ENguiLanguage=en

[4] Memo of a meeting on 5 September between the Food Standards
Agency, the British Retail Consortium and the Food and Drink
Federation - available from Friends of the Earth

[5] http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/faq/llrice/[3]

[6] http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press_room/press_release/llrice60
1.html[4]

[7] Letter available from Friends of the Earth. The FSA have
until Friday 29 September to respond.

[8] http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2006/060720a.htm[5]

Source: http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press...

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