NZ Withdraws GM Rice

Posted by Matt Hopkins|5 August 2008

New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) has required the withdrawal of imported “rice vermicelli” from China after tests showed traces of an unauthorized genetically modified (GM) rice variety, Bt63.

NZFSA said that it was not aware of health concerns from eating the product; "However,” it said, “Bt63 is not approved for sale in food in New Zealand as it has not had a Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) safety assessment."

The importer had been contacted and will voluntarily remove remaining product from sale, as well as ensure that further imports met New Zealand standards.

GM trace indicators were found in 10 samples of other imported rice products at or below the level of detection; these are being investigated to clarify their source.