EU to test all US rice after GM find

ALL long-grain rice from the US is set to be tested for genetically modified organisms after several consignments were found to have traces of GM rice varieties banned in Europe.

Authorities from the US and the EU failed to reach agreement on testing procedures in the past few weeks.

Now food safety experts from all 25 EU member states will be asked to agree compulsory tests, paid for by the US exporters, when they meet on Monday.

Over the past few months unauthorised GM traces were found in samples of US rice in a number of countries including France and the Netherlands. It had been certified GM free by the US authorities.

The EU ordered all US rice had to be tested and began discussions with the US authorities to agree on new standards of certification.

These talks broke down this week despite extensive discussions, according to a statement from European Food Safety Commissioner Markus Kyprianou.

The expert committee is expected to agree all rice will have to be tested at point of entry according to EU testing protocol.

The discovery of GM rice mixed with non-GM has US resulted in a sharp drop in exports to Europe and Japan and has hit US rice growers hard.