Stop Liberty Link Rice! Avoid imported products made with GM Rice

Stop Liberty Link Rice!
Avoid imported products made with GM Rice

Aventis, famous for the GM StarLink corn problem, is trying to bring GM rice into Japan.
Aventis has developed Liberty Link Rice, an herbicide resistant strain, in the US.
A recent news release indicated that an application to use Liberty Link Rice for use in food for both human and animal consumption will be made to the Ministries of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW) and of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) during 2001.
Although the rice will not be imported, it will be used in condiments and snacks manufactured in the US. This is only the first step. If Liberty Link Rice is approved, it will not be long before other GM Rice varieties are imported as a staple food and used in children's snacks.

The Japanese do not want GM Rice.

Rice is the main staple of the Japanese. If GM Rice is allowed, the Japanese people may be consuming more GM products than livestock!

Japan already produces an excess of rice and is currently adjusting rice production. There is no need for future imports of rice.

We oppose the research, development, cultivation, distribution and import/export of genetically modified rice, both domestically and internationally.

We ask that Aventis Crop Science Japan, the developer of Liberty Link Rice for Japan, not apply to use Liberty Link Rice.
If Aventis should apply, we appeal to MHLW and MAFF not to only consider documentation provided by Aventis alone but to conduct independent food safety tests. We hope that both MHLW and MAFF will not simply rubber-stamp the request.

We ask everyone in Japan to join us in stopping Liberty Link Rice. In doing so, Japan can stop relying on imports and revitalize Japanese farmlands.

To all rice-dependent nations: If the flow of GM rice cannot be stopped in Japan, it will be difficult to stop anywhere. Please watch what happens here and support our efforts.

To the people of the world: The impact of GM grains such as rice, wheat, and corn on human health and the environment is unknown. To ensure food safety, join the movement to prevent the development of GM Rice.

GMR Watch Center (Japan)

[ June 04, 2001 | report ]