GMW: Risk of illegal genetically engineered rice in China's exports

[Guest guest]

GMW: Risk of illegal genetically engineered rice in China's

exports

" GM WATCH " <info

Mon, 13 Jun 2005 11:11:28 +0100

 

 

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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EXCERPT: The rice is popular with some Hubei farmers as it is

engineered to produce an inbuilt pesticide, but most of them would not

dream of

eating it themselves... " Most of the farmers we met don't eat this

rice. They would explain that it is because they are afraid that this

rice

will harm their health, " Sze said.

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Risk of illegal genetically engineered rice in China's exports,

Greenpeace warns

Channel News Asia, 13 June 2005

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/health/view/152440/1/.htm

 

BEIJING: Environmental watchdog Greenpeace is warning illegal

genetically engineered (GE) rice might contaminate China's exports to

the rest

of the world.

 

The warning came as Greenpeace said it had found illegal GE rice, which

has produced allergic reactions when tested on mice, in the huge

Chinese city of Guangzhou, just north of Hong Kong.

 

" We can't rule out the possibility that GE rice could contaminate rice

exports from China, " Sze Pang Cheung, a Greenpeace campaign manager,

told a briefing in Beijing.

 

The announcement came just weeks after Greenpeace sounded the alarm

over the proliferation of illegal GE rice in the central Chinese province

of Hubei.

 

While no GE rice has yet been found in Chinese exports, there are two

possible ways of contamination, he said.

 

" One, it will contaminate processed rice and go overseas, and the other

possibility is that rice from Hubei could be used as ingredients for

rice products or products which include rice ingredients, " he said.

 

Japan, South Korea and the European Union have already raised concerns

with the Chinese government regarding possible contamination of Chinese

rice exports, according to Greenpeace.

 

" Immediate recall actions are needed if we are to prevent consumers

from exposure to risks of untested GE rice, " Sze said, commenting on the

findings in Guangzhou.

 

The rice is popular with some Hubei farmers as it is engineered to

produce an inbuilt pesticide, but most of them would not dream of

eating it

themselves, according to Greenpeace.

 

" Most of the farmers we met don't eat this rice. They would explain

that it is because they are afraid that this rice will harm their

health, "

Sze said.

 

China, a major exporter of rice, is considering commercialization of GE

rice, and officials have indicated a decision may be made this year.

 

- AFP/ir

 

 

 

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