<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Outcrossing</b></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">There are no sexually compatible species for rice in Canada. The wild &ldquo;rice&rdquo; which does occur in Canada (<i>Zizania aquatica</i>) is not sexually compatible with domesticated rice, <i>Oryza sativa</i>. In addition, these herbicide-tolerant lines will not be cultivated in Canada and if released, would not persist in the environment.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Weediness Potential</b></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Rice is not adapted to the environmental conditions encountered in Canada. The vegetative vigour, time to maturity, and seed production, for these herbicide-tolerant lines were within the normal range of these parameters as measured for other commercial rice varieties. In unmanaged ecosystems, the herbicide-tolerant trait will not confer a competitive advantage and will not, in itself, render rice more weedy or invasive of natural habitats.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Secondary and Non-Target Adverse Effects</b></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">There are no anticipated changes in ecological toxicity that would adversely impact on other organisms within managed or unmanaged ecosystems.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Impact on Biodiversity</b></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">As these lines did not display altered weediness or plant pest potential, or potential to adversely impact non-target organisms, and will not be cultivated in Canada, there was no anticipated impact on biodiversity in Canada.</p>
