GMW: GM RICE IN US FOOD SUPPLY - FDA

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GMW: GM RICE IN US FOOD SUPPLY - FDA

" GM WATCH " <info

Fri, 18 Aug 2006 22:11:42 +0100

 

 

 

 

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EXCERPT: " This rice variety, not intended for commercialization, was

not submitted to FDA for evaluation under the Agency's voluntary

biotechnology consultation process. " - FDA

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U.S. Food and Drug Administration's

Statement on Report of Bioengineered Rice in the Food Supply

CFSAN/Office of Food Additive Safety

August 18 2006

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/biorice.html

 

Bayer CropSciences recently notified the U.S. Food and Drug

Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and

Plant

Health Inspection Service (APHIS) that trace amounts of a bioengineered

variety of rice were detected in samples of commercial rice seed, and may

have entered the food and feed supply in the United States. The

bioengineered variety of rice, called LLRICE601, expresses the

phosphinothricin-N-acetyltransferase (PAT) protein which provides

tolerance to

glufosinate-ammonium herbicide. This rice variety, not intended for

commercialization, was not submitted to FDA for evaluation under the

Agency's

voluntary biotechnology consultation process. However, crops

containing the

PAT protein have previously been evaluated for safety by FDA on a

number of occasions through the Agency's voluntary biotechnology

consultation process. Bayer has informed the Agency that LLRICE601 is

present in

some samples of commercial rice seed at low levels. In addition, Bayer

has provided information about the safety of the PAT protein, molecular

characterization, and nutritional composition of grain from LLRICE601.

Based on the available data and information, FDA has concluded that the

presence of this bioengineered rice variety in the food and feed supply

poses no food or feed safety concerns.

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Release No. 0307.06

Statement by Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns Regarding Genetically

Engineered Rice

USDA, August 18 2006

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?contentidonly=true & contentid=2006/08/030\

7.xml

 

" The U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Food and Drug

Administration have been notified by Bayer CropScience that the

company has

detected trace amounts of regulated genetically engineered (GE) rice in

samples taken from commercial long grain rice. Both have reviewed the

available scientific data and concluded that there are no human

health, food

safety, or environmental concerns associated with this GE rice.

 

" Bayer has developed many GE herbicide-tolerant products with the

protein called Liberty Link, three of which are rice. The regulated

line is

LLRICE 601 and Bayer reports finding only trace amounts of it during

testing. LLRICE 601 was field tested between 1998 and 2001. Two

deregulated lines, LLRICE 62 and LLRICE 06, have been through thorough

safety

evaluations and have been deemed safe for use in food and safe in the

environment, although these lines have not been commercialized.

 

" Based on the available data and information, the U.S. Food and Drug

Administration has concluded that the presence of LLRICE 601 in the food

and feed supply poses no safety concerns. USDA's Animal and Plant

Health Inspection Service also conducted a risk assessment, which

indicates

LLRICE 601 is safe in the environment.

 

" Bayer indicated it had no plans to market LLRICE 601 and therefore had

not requested deregulation. Based on reports that LLRICE 601 is in the

marketplace and a petition from Bayer, APHIS will conduct a

deregulation process, including an opportunity for public comment.

 

" Because the line of GE rice in question was regulated, APHIS is

conducting an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding

the

release and whether any violations of USDA regulations occurred.

 

" The protein found in LLRICE 601 is approved for use in other products.

It has been repeatedly and thoroughly scientifically reviewed and used

safely in food and feed, cultivation, import and breeding in the United

States, as well as nearly a dozen other countries around the world.

 

" Since 1987, APHIS has deregulated more than 70 GE crop lines and in

the last decade farmers have increasingly planted biotech varieties

engineered mainly for herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, and

enhanced

quality traits. USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service

estimates that in 2006, 61 percent of the corn, 83 percent of the

cotton and 89

percent of the soybeans planted in the United States were biotech

varieties. "

 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Statement On Report Of

Bioengineered Rice In The Food Supply

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/biorice.html

 

Fact Sheet: Genetically Engineered Rice

http://www.usda.gov/2006/08/0306.xml

 

Contact:

Karen Eggert (202) 720-2511

Ed Loyd (202) 720-4623

 

 

 

 

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