Reuters AlertNet Lite - U.S GMO rice found in China supermarkets -Greenpeace

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

U.S GMO rice found in China supermarkets -Greenpeace

20 Nov 2007 10:23:56 GMT
Source: Reuters

BEIJING, Nov 20 (Reuters) - The environmental group, Greenpeace, said unauthorised genetically modified (GMO) rice from the United States was found in Beijing's supermarkets.

China does not allow sales and imports of GMO rice as rice is the staple food for most of the country's population, though it does allow imports, particularly GMO soybeans and corn, to be processed into products, or used as animal feed.

Greenpeace in Beijing collected 10 U.S food samples from two supermarkets in Beijing in August and September and testing showed one of the samples contained Liberty Link rice strain, it said in a statement.

Liberty Link RICE601, a genetically modified strain made by Bayer Crop Science <BAYG.DE>, was discovered in U.S commercial rice supply last year and led to a sharp fall in U.S export sales, especially to countries in Europe.

China is a not a big rice importer from the United States.

A Ministry of Agriculture biosafety official told Reuters that the ministry was investigating the case.

There was no immediate comment from the U.S embassy in Beijing.

Greenpeace two years ago said it had found GMO rice being sold in markets in Chinese cities in the south. The strain was being test-grown at a university in Wuhan, central Hubei province. (Reporting by Niu Shuping and Vivi Lin, Editing by Peter Blackburn)

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• China profile
· View map

MORE >>

NGO latest

• New Guidelines for Addressing Mental Health in Emergencies
IMC - USA

• California Fires: Direct Relief Commits $400,000 Cash to Safety-Net Clinics
DRI - USA

• The Power of One: ADRA Encourages Individuals to Observe World AIDS Day
ADRA - International

• Study Finds 37.4% HIV Prevalence Among Street Youth in Russia
DOW

• Life saving presents for Christmas
Christian Aid - UK

MORE >>

Latest news

• U.S GMO rice found in China supermarkets -Greenpeace

• Risk of Turkish incursion into Iraq diminished-FM

• US says finds shackled bodies in Iraq Qaeda sweep

• Risk of Turkish incursion into Iraq diminished-FM

• FEATURE-Homesick Iraqi refugees return to uncertain future

MORE >>

Last updated:Tue Nov 20 10:22:54 2007