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

U.S. Dismantles Regulation of Genetically Engineered Crops to Serve Interests of Biotechnology Industry

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!

**Please note that due to the diffulties many of you have had in posting your public comments to the USDA's new web system (regulations.gov), we will be collecting your comments and delivering them to USDA at the close of the comment period. If you choose to download and mail your comments after your email is sent, USDA requests 4 copies of your comments.