Mexico became the latest country to ask for
a certification for US rice imports to ensure it is free of
genetic material not approved for human consumption, a government
official said on Wednesday.
Marco Antonio Meraz, who heads a federal
biosecurity and GMO commission, said the government was testing
for the LL Rice 601 strain, which contaminated the US commercial
supply last year, according to Reuters report.
The USA Rice Federation said on Wednesday
Mexican officials had stopped rice shipments at the border
and were asking for certification that the grain is free of
the genetically modified material.
A report which appeared at the USA Rice Daily
on March 12 said the controversy on US rice has already affected
47 percent of the US rice exports.
"Many people think this is a problem
only for the shipment of US rice to the European Community,
but Europe is not the only market affected," said Bob
Cummings, USA Rice VP for international policy.
"Many key markets are requiring testing
for the presence of LL traits, and that adds cost and commercial
risk to exporting US rice."
Mexico is the largest importer of US rice valued at $205
million. Countries asking for testing include Japan, Iraq,
Canada, South Korea, the UAE and Taiwan.
Trading has stopped for the EU, Cuba, Russia and the Philippines.
Global US rice exports are estimated to be worth $1.289 billion.
