Commission Implementing Decision of 22 December 2011 on emergency measures regarding unauthorised genetically modified rice in rice products originating from China and repealing Decision 2008/289/EC (Text with EEA relevance) (2011/884/EU)

ANNEX II U.K. Methods of sampling and analysis for official control regarding unauthorised genetically modified organism in rice products originating from China

1. General provisions U.K.

Samples intended for the official control for the absence of GM rice in rice products shall be taken according to the methods described in this Annex. The bulk samples thus obtained shall be considered as representative of the lots from which they are taken.

2. Sampling U.K.

2.1. Sampling lots of bulk commodities and preparation of the analytical samples U.K.

The number of incremental samples which make up the bulk sample and the preparation of the analytical samples shall be made in accordance with Recommendation 2004/787/EC and Regulation (EC) No 152/2009 for feed. The size of the laboratory sample shall be 2,5 kg but may be reduced to 500 grams for processed food or feed. For the purpose of Article 11(5) of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004, a second laboratory sample shall be constituted from the bulk sample.

2.2. Sampling of prepacked food and feed U.K.

The number of incremental samples for the constitution of the bulk sample and the preparation of the analytical samples shall be made in accordance with CEN/ISO 15568 or equivalent. The size of the laboratory sample shall be 2,5 kg but may be reduced to 500 grams for processed food or feed. For the purpose of Article 11(5) of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004, a second laboratory sample shall be constituted from the bulk sample.

3. Analysis of the laboratory sample U.K.

The laboratory analysis at the point of origin shall be carried out in a designated AQSIQ laboratory, and prior to release for free circulation in the Union in a Member State designated official control laboratory. Screening tests shall be performed by real-time PCR according to the method published by the EU-RL GMFF(1), for at least the following genetic elements: the CAMV (Cauliflower Mosaic Virus) 35S promoter, the NOS (nopaline synthase) terminator from Agrobacterium tumefaciens and the engineered CryIAb, CryIAc and/or CryIAb/CryIAc from Bacillus thuringiensis.

In the case of grain samples the designated control laboratory shall take from the homogenised laboratory sample four analytical samples of 240 grams (equivalent 10 000 rice grains). For processed products such as flour, pasta or starch the analytical samples this may be reduced to 125 grams. The four analytical samples shall be ground and further analysed separately. Two extractions shall be made from each analytical sample. One PCR test for each GM genetic element shall be made for each extraction in accordance with the screening methods detailed under point 4 below. The consignment shall be considered non-compliant if at least one GM genetic element is considered detectable in at least one analytical sample of the consignment according to the guidelines provided in the EU-RL report.

4. The following analytical methods shall be used: U.K.

(a)

For screening for the CAMV (Cauliflower Mosaic Virus) 35S promoter and the NOS (nopaline synthase) terminator from Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

ISO 21570: 2005 Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products—quantitative nucleic acid based methods. Annex B1.

H.-U. Waiblinger et al., (2008) ‘Validation and collaborative study of a P35S and T-nos duplex real-time screening method to detect genetically modified organisms in food products’ Eur. Food Res. and Technol., Volume 226, 1221-1228.

E. Barbau-Piednoir et al., (2010) ‘SYBR®Green qPCR screening methods for the presence of “35S promoter” and “NOS terminator” elements in food and feed products’ Eur. Food Res. and Technol Volume 230, 383-393.

Reiting R, Broll H, Waiblinger HU, Grohmann L (2007) Collaborative study of a T-nos real-time PCR method for screening of genetically modified organisms in food products. J Verbr Lebensm 2:116–121.

(b)

For screening for the engineered CryIAb, CryIAc and/or CryIAb/CryIAc from Bacillus thuringiensis.

E. Barbau-Piednoir et al., (in press) ‘Four new SYBR®Green qPCR screening methods for the detection of Roundup Ready®, LibertyLink® and CryIAb traits in genetically modified products’ Eur. Food Res. and Technol DOI 10.1007/s00217-011-1605-7.

Following verification of the specificity of the methods by the EU-RL GMFF on a wide variety of Chinese rice samples such method shall be considered as appropriate for these screening purposes.

5. The application of the above screening methods shall take into consideration the guidance document published by the EU RL GMFF. U.K.

(1)

http://gmo-crl.jrc.ec.europa.eu