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Commission Favors Suspension of California GM Rice Test Plots

Following mounting concern over the discovery of trace levels of genetic material unapproved for commercialization in long grain rice seed outside of California, the California Rice Commission voted March 14 to support a moratorium "on the field testing of all genetically modified rice cultivars in the State of California for the 2007 crop, and for future crops, until such time as research protocol and safeguards are acceptable to the California Rice Commission."

"Based on the events of the last few months, it is clear that the federal regulatory process is not working for rice," commented Frank Rehermann, Chair of the CRC Board and a rice producer in Live Oak, Calif. "It is imperative that those systems are evaluated and approved." The commission recommendation is to be considered by a larger board that controls almost all test plantings of rice in California.

Source: Feedstuffs