Greenpeace calls for stopping continuing contamination of rice

New Delhi, Oct 11 (UNI) International environment organisation Greenpeace has urged agriculture ministers attending the International Rice Congress in the capital to take immediate steps to prevent the continuing contamination of the world's most important staple food.

According to tests conducted by Greenpeace, rice products being sold in West Asia region had also been contaminated by Bayer's ''illegal genetically engineered'' rice grown in field trials in the US, a statement said here.

Contamination in the West Asia had serious global implications as the region was the world's second largest importer of US rice and a major re-exporter of the food item throughout Asia.

Presenting IRC delegates with symbolic bowls of rice with question marks, Greenpeace activists asked the ministers to take immediate action to prevent the continuing contamination of rice.

Greenpeace urged governments to protect the staple diet of millions of people by drawing a clear plan of action to protect their countries from similar GE contamination, prevent genetic contamination of crops and hold Bayer accountable for its recklessness.

UNI IP YA DB2059