On 12 February, the European Commission took a decision to require compulsory certification for imports of Chinese rice products that may contain the unauthorized GMO ‘Bt63’. Despite measures announced by Chinese authorities in 2007, the presence of ‘Bt62’ was reported until late 2007. Following the emergency measure adopted by the Commission, as of April 15, only consignments of rice products indicated in a specific Annex of the Decision can enter the EU.
Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said: "Under EU food safety legislation, only GMOs, which have undergone a thorough scientific assessment and authorisation procedure, may be put on the EU market. The decision adopted today aims to prevent the unauthorised Bt63 rice from reaching EU consumers, by ensuring that only rice products certified as free from this GMO enter the EU."
Background
The presence of unauthorized ‘Bt63’ was first discovered in the UK, France and Germany in September 2006. Following failure on the part Chinese authorities to provide the Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) with control samples and a protocol of detection method, the Commission adopted emergency measures which impose a compulsory certificate on several rice products coming from the People’s Republic of China.
Next step
The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCOFCAH) examined the Decision and gave its favourable opinion. A reassessment will follow in six months.
