Washington, DC
March 9, 2007
Testing by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed
the presence of trace levels of genetic material not yet
approved for commercialization in Clearfield 131 (CL131) rice
seed. Based on these test results, further distribution or
planting of 2005, 2006, or 2007 registered or certified CL131
seed is prohibited. This seed is not an option for planting this
crop season.
These test results confirm results received from private testing
that were announced on Monday, March 5.
APHIS is issuing emergency action notifications (EANs) to
distributors of 2005, 2006, or 2007 registered or certified
CL131 rice seed--and producers who are known to have received
it--to stop the further distribution and planting of this seed.
And, APHIS is working with the rice industry to inform
distributors and farmers with saved CL131 rice seed from prior
crop years that they cannot further distribute or plant it.
Producers who have already planted CL131 seed this season prior
to this announcement have several options, including treating
with an herbicide or mechanically destroying the plants after
emergence. A different variety of rice or a broadleaf crop such
as soybeans can then be planted in its place. For further
information about these options, please contact Thomas Sim,
Director of Regulatory Operations for APHIS' Biotechnology
Regulatory Services program, at (301) 734-7324.
APHIS will provide additional information next week regarding
options for any producers or distributors currently holding
saved CL131 seed from previous crop years. |
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