The European Commission has expressed its concern to China over unauthorised imports of genetically modified (gm) rice protein for use in animal feed. In a statement, the commission said that gm strain Bt 63, which is not authorised in the eu, was found in rice protein concentrate imported from China via the Netherlands.

The commission issued an alert following investigations in Cyprus. In the uk alone, four companies had received consignments of the potentially affected product between January and March 2007. Companies in Belgium, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain have received similar consignments. Though the quarantined stocks have been returned to the importer, much of the feed has already been sold before the alert was issued.