GM RICE FOUND IN FRANCE BY GOF AUTHORITIES

UNCLAS PARIS 006040 SIPDIS SENSITIVE BRUSSELS PASS USEU FOR AGMINCOUNSELOR STATE FOR OES; EUR/ERA AND EB (SPIRNAK); STATE PASS USTR FOR MURPHY; USDA/OS/JOHANNS AND PENN/TERPSTRA; USDA/FAS FOR OA/YOST/SIMMONS/JONES; ITP/SHEIKH/MACKE/TOM POMEROY/MIKE WOOLSEY/GREG YOUNG; BOB RIEMENSCHNEIDER FAA/SEBRANEK/BLEGGI; EU POSTS PASS TO AGRICULTURE AND ECON GENEVA FOR USTR, ALSO AGRICULTURE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR ETRD EU FR SUBJECT: GM RICE FOUND IN FRANCE BY GOF AUTHORITIES REF: State 136471 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The French Government is testing for the presence of GM rice in U.S. long grain products already on the French market, an action which goes beyond the EU Commission's decision to have Member States test rice imports for the presence of GM material. Tests revealed several lots that contained the presence of LLRice 601 and French authorities removed them from the market. France imported 30,000 MT of rice from the U.S. in 2005, 95 percent of which was long grain, with a value of $12.6 million. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Following the EU Commission's decision on August 23 to have Member States test imports of U.S. long grain rice for the presence of GM material, the French Government (GOF) notified the Commission that they would test imported products already on the French market. ¶3. (SBU) Tests performed by the Fraud Control Office (DGCCRF) of the French Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry showed several lots of US origin long grain rice were contaminated with the LLRice601 event at a rate lower than 0.1 percent. The lots, which were imported by two French companies, were immediately removed from the French market. According to DGCCRF, this action was not related to any food safety risk, but rather because, in accordance with EU requirements, a product is forbidden on the EU market until it is authorized. ¶4. (SBU) DGCCRF informed FAS/Paris that they will participate in the meeting of the EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health next Monday, September 11, where EU Member States are expected to discuss ways to harmonize their policies on the issue of testing rice already in the EU market. For instance, French authorities relayed their understanding that UK authorities won't test GM rice in lots already in the UK market. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: The presence of unauthorized GM rice in U.S. shipments may have a dampening effect on French imports of long grain rice from the United States, particularly if widely publicized by anti-GMO groups. France imported 30,000 MT of rice from the U.S. in 2005, 95 percent of which was long grain variety, with a value of $12.6 million. Of interest, DGCCRF is also testing to confirm whether rice shipments from China contain GM rice. FAS/Paris will continue to monitor and report on the situation. End Comment. Stapleton