The European Union issued strict testing rules on imported rice from China this week. The policy change comes after EU officials repeatedly warned China to keep a banned rice out of Europe. From the Associated Press via the Houston Chronicle:
EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said the decision was intended to prevent any future imports of the banned Bt-63, genetically modified variety of rice, which was discovered during 2006-2007 by national food safety authorities.
“Under food safety legislation only GMO’s (genetically modified organisms) which have undergone a thorough scientific assessment and authorization procedure may be put on the EU market,” Kyprianou said in a statement.
The new testing, scheduled to begin April 15, will raise costs for Chinese exporters.
