Dear Ministry for Primary Industries,

Today the BBC reported that most varities of rice importe dinto the United States contained unsafe levels of lead ("US rice imports 'contain harmful levels of lead'", BBC, 10 April 2013). I would like to request the following information under the OIA:

* whether there is any testing regime to monitor levels of lead, arsenic and other heavy metals in rice importe dinto New Zealand;
* if so, any results from that scheme in the last year.

I would prefer to receive an electronic response. Queries about this request will be automatically forwarded to me by the fyi.org.nz website.

With regards to s12 of the OIA, I am an NZ citizen and in NZ.

Yours faithfully,

Alex Harris