Brussels, Feb. 12 - The European Union imposed strict new testing rules Tuesday on the import of rice from China, claiming recent imports contained a genetically altered strain that is banned in the E.U.
E.U. Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said the decision was intended to prevent any future imports of the banned Bt-63 genetically modified variety of rice, which was discovered during 2006-07 by national food safety authorities.
"Under food safety legislation only GMO's (genetically modified organisms) which have undergone a thorough scientific assessment and authorization procedure may be put on the E.U. market," Kyprianou said in a statement.
The European Commission said that, despite repeated notifications, Chinese authorities have been unable to prevent the banned rice from reaching Europe, so all rice imports will now face testing.
The measure is sure to increase costs for Chinese exporters. And it could complicate already testy E.U.-China trade ties, which have been rocked over recent product safety concerns.
China has been the subject of the largest number of safety alerts logged by E.U. authorities, and the country has been put under increased pressure to improve the quality of its exports.
The European Commission said the extra checks will be imposed beginning April 15.
The Bt-63 strain was first discovered in shipments in September 2006 in Germany, France and the U.K.
The Commission said it will reassess the testing procedures in six months.