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Genetically Engineered Rice Unintentionally Released in the US

Related Updates: Technical Recommendations | 2006-09-29 | 2006-09-07 | 2006-08-28

On August 18, 2006, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that trace amounts of a line of genetically engineered rice (LLRICE601), developed by Bayer CropScience had been unintentionally released in long grain rice in the United States. This rice has been genetically-engineered to be tolerant to a herbicide. There is currently no evidence that LLRICE601 has been imported into Canada.

In advance of the announcement, the CFIA and Health Canada, in consultation with the USDA and Bayer CropScience, conducted preliminary assessments of the risks that this incident posed to Canadian food and feed and the environment. The assessments determined that it is unlikely that low levels of LLRICE601 pose a risk to human health, livestock or the environment.

LLRICE601 is genetically very similar to another type of genetically engineered rice ( LLRICE62) which has been thoroughly assessed and approved for feed and food use in both Canada and the US However, this line of rice is not used commercially in Canada and the US While there is currently no evidence that LLRICE601 has been imported into Canada, the Government of Canada continues to work with the USDA to actively gather information about the distribution of this product.

• Technical recommendations for importers of rice and rice products to minimize the potential for LLRICE601 to be brought into Canada
• Technical Update (2006-09-29)
• Update (2006-09-07)