The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) deregulation of the Bayer CropScience genetically engineered (GE) rice variety LLRICE601 is one result of a robust effort to restore marketability to U.S. rice. The USA Rice Federation and its affiliated organizations and members filed comments supporting deregulation.

“Deregulation is a necessary step in ensuring the stability and viability for U.S. rice in all markets,” USA Rice Federation Chairman Al Montna said, “but we realize there is still a great deal more work to do.”

“The APHIS decision won’t automatically re-open markets currently closed to U.S. rice, but U.S. regulatory approval should help reassure customers that the U.S. government believes LLRICE601to be safe for consumption and the environment,” Montna said.

APHIS rendered its decision after a thorough review of scientific evidence showing that LLRICE601 “is as safe as its traditionally bred counterparts.” The final 51-page APHIS environmental assessmentand the APHIS news release announcing the decision are linked on the USA Rice Web site.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the food safety agencies of many other countries including the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada had already declared the rice safe for human consumption.

Meanwhile, the APHIS investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the release of trace amounts of LLRICE601 into the U.S. rice supply and “whether any USDA regulations were violated” is nearly complete, the APHIS news release said.

USA Rice Federation is the national advocate for all segments of the rice industry, conducting activities to influence government programs, developing and initiating programs to increase worldwide demand for U.S. rice, and providing other services to increase profitability for all industry segments.