South Korea lifts temporary ban on US rice

SEOUL - Agence France-Presse

A rice paddy depicts a logo of the Inter-City Intangible Cultural Cooperation Network (ICCN), a Gangneung-based international gathering of regional governments worldwide seeking to preserve the world's intangible cultures, and an image of a traditional mask dance in Gangneung on South Korea's east coast, 03 September 2012. EPA photo

South Korea on Friday lifted a temporary ban on US rice imports and sales after tests allayed concerns of serious arsenic contamination, the agriculture ministry said.
 
The government had suspended the import and circulation of US rice on September 21 after US magazine Consumer Reports said it contained dangerous levels of arsenic.
 
A test conducted by health officials confirmed the existence of the poison, but only in miniscule amounts that posed no health risk, the agriculture ministry said in a statement.
 
The ministry said a state food watchdog would consider setting specific limits on arsenic levels in rice in the future.