Temporary Restraining Order Stops DA, BPI from Approving Bayer’s GMO Rice

Press Release

1 September 2007
South East Asia Regional Initiatives for Community Empowerment (SEARICE)
#29 Magiting St. Teacher’s Village, Diliman
Quezon City 1101
Tel. Nos. 922-67-10; 433-71-82

Contact Person: Corazon de Jesus

Temporary Restraining Order Stops DA, BPI from Approving Bayer’s GMO Rice


A Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) was granted yesterday by a Quezon City Trial Court preventing the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) from approving the application by Bayer CropScience of its genetically modified Liberty Link Rice 62 (LLRICE62) for direct use for food, feed and processing.

“We welcome the issuance of a TRO.” says Che de Jesus, policy officer of SEARICE. “The TRO assures us that the DA and BPI will be prevented from approving Bayer’s application to import genetically modified rice for the moment”, de Jesus further expressed.

The DA Administrative Order No. 8 (AO#8) only requires the applicant, Bayer Crop Science to publish a public information sheet (PIS) which does not sufficiently inform the public. There was no actual public consultation process held to think that LLRICE62 could pose environmental and health risks given that rice is the staple food of the Filipinos.

In August 2006, Bayer CropScience applied for the importation of LLRICE62 - a genetically modified rice resistant to herbicide also manufactured by Bayer.



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