International

Last month traces of a banned strain of genetically modified (GM) rice were discovered in rice shipped from the United States and destined for consumption in the European Union. Last week in the Dutch port of Rotterdam a ship was seized with a cargo of 20,000 tonnes of rice suspected of being contaminated with the banned GM variety. In view of these events, SP Euro-MP Kartika Liotard, who sits on both the agriculture and environment committees of the European Parliament, today asked the European Commission subject the import of GM foodstuffs to fundamental review.

Europe's most fuel-efficient car has been allowed to sit gathering dust for the last decade. According to SP Euro-MP Erik Meijer, who sits on the European Parliament's Transport Committee, it is high time that production and sales of this car – the Twingo Smile, which does 30 km to the litre, or about 90 mpg – were given a stimulus. “I don't think we should sit around waiting for China to realise its earning potential," says Mr Meijer, who today asked the European Commission to consider the introduction of concrete measures to promote the vehicle.