[Texgreen] Tell USDA NOT to Approve Illegal GE Rice!

[Craig MIller]

Tell USDA NOT to Approve Illegal GE Rice!


USDA to Rubber-Stamp Contamination of Food with Illegal, Genetically Engineered 
Rice Banned in Japan and Europe

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has initiated fast-track market
approval of an illegal, genetically-engineered (GE) rice variety that has
contaminated long-grain rice throughout the South, throwing rice markets into
turmoil and causing potential harm to consumers and the environment.  The
variety, known as LL601, was developed by Bayer CropScience.  Bayer field-tested
 LL601 from 1998-2001, but for unknown reasons never applied to USDA for market
approval.

Though it is known that LL601 is illegally present in rice supplies, U.S.
authorities have failed to recall LL601-contaminated rice supplies or food
products,  despite a lack of information on potential health or environmental
impacts. In contrast, Japan has banned U.S. long-grain rice imports, and the
European Union is testing U.S. rice shipments and rejecting those that contain
LL601.

Bayer is now asking USDA to grant retroactive market approval of the illegal
rice, even though it remains inadequately tested, and the company gave up plans
to market LL601 in 2001.

Consumers should not be asked to pay for Bayer's mistake. USDA should hold Bayer
accountable: test and recall contaminated food products, make all test protocols
and positive samples available to the public, destroy the contaminated rice and
compensate farmers and food companies for their losses - not deregulate an
illegal product after the fact. 

A public comment period is open now through October 10th. Tell USDA NOT to
approve this illegal, inadequately tested rice, and to hold Bayer CropScience
accountable!

**If you have problems with the links in this email, cut and paste the following
URL into your browsers address bar to take action online:
http://ga3.org/campaign/LLRice 


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