The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will no longer regulate LLRice601, a genetically engineered line of rice. APHIS research found the GMO line to be as safe as traditionally bred rice.
LLRice601, engineered by Bayer CropScience to tolerate LibertyLink herbicides, appeared in commercial long-grain rice this summer. When European Union authorities found the strain in a shipment that had been certified GMO-free, it led the European Commission to push for mandatory tests of all U.S. rice shipments to the EU.
As part of an investigation into regulated rice appearing in commercials long-grain rice supplies, APHIS also announced test results that showed 2003 Cheniere variety as the only foundation seed testing positive for genetically engineered LLRice601.