EU lifts restrictions on US rice imports

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BRUSSELS, April 19 (Reuters) - The European Union has lifted restrictions on imports of rice from the United States that were imposed in 2006 after shipments were found to contain genetically modified rice not approved in the bloc, an EU official said on Monday.

U.S. rice imports to the EU have been at a virtual standstill since 2006 because the restrictions meant rice could be approved for sale only if accompanied by test documents proving they were free of GM rice LL 601, produced by Germany's Bayer CropScience (BAYE.BO).

"The proposal to lift the measure followed testing by the U.S. Rice Federation for the 2009 crop of harvested rice, which did not detect lots containing LL Rice 601," a spokesman for EU Health Commissioner John Dalli said in a statement.

The EU has also received assurances that U.S. exporters will continue to apply a strict testing plan to rice exported to Europe, the spokesman said.

The same committee of EU member state officials that agreed to lift the rice import restrictions failed to reach a decision on Monday on proposals to authorise imports to the EU of three GM maize varieties for use as food and feed.

The proposals covered new authorisations for two insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant maize varieties, MON89034xNK603 and Bt11xGA21, developed by Monsanto and Syngenta respectively.

A third decision covered the renewal of an existing authorisation for the insect-resistant Bt11 maize, also developed by Syngenta.

As the committee failed to reach a majority decision for or against the proposals, they will now be sent to EU ministers for approval. (Reporting by Charlie Dunmore; Editing by James Jukwey)
Mon Apr 19, 2010 12:29pm EDT
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE63I1ZM20100419

foodpal

欧盟解除对美国稻米的限制措施
4月19日路透社消息，欧盟解除2006年以来对美国大米实施的进口限制措施。2006年因从美国的大米中发现欧盟未被授权的转基因成分，欧盟出台了对美国大米的限制措施。
自从2006年以来，美国对欧盟的大米进口实际上是处于一种停滞状态，因为欧盟的限制措施要求只有随附检测文件证明进口的大米无德国拜尔作物科学（Bayer CropScience）的LL 601转基因成分，大米才允许在欧盟销售。
欧盟卫生事务委员的发言人在一份声明中解释，在美国稻米联盟（U.S. Rice Federation）对2009年收获的稻米进行检测且未发现大米含LL601后，欧盟解除限制措施。欧盟还收到美国出口商的保证，将继续对出口至欧洲的大米实施严格的检测计划。
同意对美国进口大米解除限制措施的欧盟成员国官员，当天未能就授权进口三种转基因玉米至欧盟作为食品和饲料使用达成一项决议。提议涉及两项新的抗虫害和耐除草剂玉米种类的授权，即MON89034xNK603和Bt11xGA21，这两种玉米分别由Monsanto和Syngenta研发。还有一项决定涉及更新一项现有对由Syngenta研发的抗虫害玉米Bt11的授权。
因委员会未能就同意或否决这些提议而获得多数人票，这些提议将提交给欧盟部长。