Philippine court orders temporary halt to imports of genetically modified rice
The Associated Press
Friday, August 31, 2007
A court has ordered a temporary hold on an application to bring genetically modified rice into the Philippines, pending a study of possible health and environment hazards, court documents and activists said Friday.
A regional trial court in suburban Quezon City issued the temporary restraining order after the environmental group Greenpeace asked it to stop Bayer Philippines Inc., the local affiliate of German pharmaceutical and chemical giant Bayer, from introducing the LL62 rice variety.
Considering debate on genetically modified organisms, it would be prudent to restrain the company from introducing LL62 in the Philippines, where rice is a staple food, according to the order Wednesday from Judge Evangeline Castillo Marigomen.
The order prohibits the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Plant Industry — also named respondents in the case — from approving Bayer's application for 20 days. The court set a Sept. 14 hearing on Greenpeace's petition for a preliminary injunction.
"Greenpeace believes that the pending application of a genetically altered rice to be used for food, feed and processing in our country is a very serious issue of public concern," Greenpeace campaigner Daniel Ocampo said in a statement. "The entry of GMO rice in our country will irrevocably alter the future of our most important staple food."
The petition for injunction, filed last week, questions the lack of public consultation on GMO approvals by the two government agencies, particularly in the case of Bayer LL62's application.
Last year, U.S. farmers sued Bayer's CropScience unit after its genetically modified rice LL601 contaminated regular rice in the U.S., causing rice prices to drop.
The German Agriculture Ministry also confirmed that LL601 rice was found in stores in Germany's leading supermarket chain, which removed the affected brand from its shelves. The modified rice is illegal in the European Union.
The USDA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with food regulators in Britain, the Netherlands and Canada, have all said that LL601 poses no harm to human health.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/31/asia/AS-GEN-Philippines-GMO-Rice.php
Friday, August 31, 2007
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.
- end -
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.
- end -
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.
- end -
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.
- end -
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
280 Mindanao and Bohol Farmers Join as Petitioners vs. GM Rice
Two hundred eighty farmers from North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarata and Bohol signed as additional petitioners to declare the provisions on public cconsultations contained in the Department of Agriculture's Administrative Order 8 unconstitutional for being in violation of their right to health, right to balanced and healthful ecology and right to information as enshrined in the 1987 Philippine constitution.
The petition also seeks to prohibit the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Director of Bureau of Plant Industry from taking any further action in considering the application of Bayer CropScience for direct use of Liberty Link Rice 62 (LL Rice 62). LLRice 62 is genetically modified to tolerate Liberty Link herbicides also manufactured by Bayer CropScience.
Aside from health and environmental concerns, the approval of LLRice 62 importation for direct use poses trade concerns. The United States where LLRice 62 is most likely to be sourced has highly subsidized and highly organized rice sector. Importation could disrupt domestic rice market at a time when Philippine trade negotiators are working to protect the rice industry by extending the special product treatment to rice.
Last week, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas approved the US$20M commodity loan which involves importation of 69,000 metric tons of rice from the US. The US rice sector tap grant and concessional credit, such as Public Law 480, to build the market overseas. If the timing is not right, Filipino rice farmers will end up competing for local rice market with imported rice. In addition, since the imported rice is part of a loan agreement, Filipinos (including rice farmers) will have to pay for the loan.
The petition also seeks to prohibit the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Director of Bureau of Plant Industry from taking any further action in considering the application of Bayer CropScience for direct use of Liberty Link Rice 62 (LL Rice 62). LLRice 62 is genetically modified to tolerate Liberty Link herbicides also manufactured by Bayer CropScience.
Aside from health and environmental concerns, the approval of LLRice 62 importation for direct use poses trade concerns. The United States where LLRice 62 is most likely to be sourced has highly subsidized and highly organized rice sector. Importation could disrupt domestic rice market at a time when Philippine trade negotiators are working to protect the rice industry by extending the special product treatment to rice.
Last week, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas approved the US$20M commodity loan which involves importation of 69,000 metric tons of rice from the US. The US rice sector tap grant and concessional credit, such as Public Law 480, to build the market overseas. If the timing is not right, Filipino rice farmers will end up competing for local rice market with imported rice. In addition, since the imported rice is part of a loan agreement, Filipinos (including rice farmers) will have to pay for the loan.
Friday, August 24, 2007
BPI asked to stop approval
BPI asked to stop approval of Bayer’s GMO rice
http://www.malaya.com.ph/aug24/agri1.htm
Asserting that the country’s approval process for GMOs is unconstitutional and "hopelessly flawed," Greenpeace and Searice yesterday filed a petition for injunction seeking to stop the Bureau of Plant Industry and the Department of Agriculture from approving the application of Bayer for its genetically-modified (GMO) rice strain.
The petition questioned the constitutionality of the DA Administrative Order (AO) 8 (series of 2002), the guidelines for the approval of GMOs. It also seeks a temporary restraining order
(TRO) to prevent the DA and the BPI from taking any further action on the application for approval of the GMO rice Bayer LL62 for use in food, feed, and for processing.
"The system for GMO approvals in the country is hopelessly flawed. It completely brushes aside public voice in what should be a grave issue of public concern," said Danny Ocampo, Greenpeace Genetic-Engineering Campaigner. "Right now the DA and the BPI are in the process of approving what could be the first genetically-manipulated rice for public consumption in the country. How much do Filipinos know about this and what voice do they have in such a process? Very little. And yet, for the whole country, the impending approval of this genetically-altered rice will certainly be an alarming precedent that will irrevocably alter the future of our most important staple food."
Greenpeace questioned the lack of public voice and public consultation on GMO approvals, particularly in the case of Bayer LL62’s application. Among the grounds cited in the petition are: the "public consultation" requirements under DA AO 8 are grossly insufficient and violate the minimum standards set by the Constitution in recognizing the right of the people to matters of public concern under Article III, Section 7; the pro forma requirement on public consultation in DA AO 8 impairs the policy set in AO 8 itself to guarantee protection to health and the environment, consistent with the constitutional guarantees under Article II, Sections 16 and 17; and that unless restrained by the courts, with the mere publication of Bayer’s Public Information Sheet (PIS) on the GMO rice LL62 as the sole requirement under AO 8 to indicate the conduct of public consultation, there is no "legal" obstacle that would prevent the DA and the BPI from approving GMO rice Bayer LL62 for direct use in feed, food and for processing.
The GMO rice Bayer LL62 is rice whose DNA has been injected with genetic material from an entirely different organism to resist glufosinate, a powerful weed killer also produced by Bayer, which is meant to be used in conjunction with the said crop. Bayer filed an application with the BPI on August 26, 2006 for the approval of the said GMO rice in the country.
Greenpeace has repeatedly requested the BPI for official information regarding the application. The DA and the BPI, however, have been quiet, stating only that it is under review and that Bayer has "complied" with the requirement to submit a PIS under DA AO 8.
To date, there has been no substantial disclosure by BPI nor the DA to the public regarding the application and the actual status of the application. But, if approved, Bayer LL62 will be the first
genetically-modified rice in the Philippines. The Philippines will also be the first country in the world to approve a genetically-altered strain of its most important staple food crop.
Bayer filed the application at the height of the biggest genetic contamination case concerning the US rice supply. Non-GMO US long grain rice crops were found to have been tainted with Bayer’s LL601, a GMO similar to LL62. Export shipments of tainted US long grain rice were subsequently rejected by markets around the world, plunging the US rice industry into a crisis. Genetically-altered rice is not approved in most parts of the world because of concerns about health and environmental risks.
"GMOs have never been proven safe for human consumption and poses grave risks to the environment as they can contaminate GMO-free crops and ecosystems. Once they do, the process of recalling and tracing genetically-altered organisms and their trail of contamination is extremely expensive, if not almost impossible," said Corazon De Jesus, Searice Policy Officer. "Instead of approving different GM varieties, our government should focus its resources in developing traditional varieties and promoting sustainable agriculture which gives better yields without harming the environment and which puts the farmers’ interests, rather than those of greedy multinational agricultural firms, at heart."
http://www.malaya.com.ph/aug24/agri1.htm
Asserting that the country’s approval process for GMOs is unconstitutional and "hopelessly flawed," Greenpeace and Searice yesterday filed a petition for injunction seeking to stop the Bureau of Plant Industry and the Department of Agriculture from approving the application of Bayer for its genetically-modified (GMO) rice strain.
The petition questioned the constitutionality of the DA Administrative Order (AO) 8 (series of 2002), the guidelines for the approval of GMOs. It also seeks a temporary restraining order
(TRO) to prevent the DA and the BPI from taking any further action on the application for approval of the GMO rice Bayer LL62 for use in food, feed, and for processing.
"The system for GMO approvals in the country is hopelessly flawed. It completely brushes aside public voice in what should be a grave issue of public concern," said Danny Ocampo, Greenpeace Genetic-Engineering Campaigner. "Right now the DA and the BPI are in the process of approving what could be the first genetically-manipulated rice for public consumption in the country. How much do Filipinos know about this and what voice do they have in such a process? Very little. And yet, for the whole country, the impending approval of this genetically-altered rice will certainly be an alarming precedent that will irrevocably alter the future of our most important staple food."
Greenpeace questioned the lack of public voice and public consultation on GMO approvals, particularly in the case of Bayer LL62’s application. Among the grounds cited in the petition are: the "public consultation" requirements under DA AO 8 are grossly insufficient and violate the minimum standards set by the Constitution in recognizing the right of the people to matters of public concern under Article III, Section 7; the pro forma requirement on public consultation in DA AO 8 impairs the policy set in AO 8 itself to guarantee protection to health and the environment, consistent with the constitutional guarantees under Article II, Sections 16 and 17; and that unless restrained by the courts, with the mere publication of Bayer’s Public Information Sheet (PIS) on the GMO rice LL62 as the sole requirement under AO 8 to indicate the conduct of public consultation, there is no "legal" obstacle that would prevent the DA and the BPI from approving GMO rice Bayer LL62 for direct use in feed, food and for processing.
The GMO rice Bayer LL62 is rice whose DNA has been injected with genetic material from an entirely different organism to resist glufosinate, a powerful weed killer also produced by Bayer, which is meant to be used in conjunction with the said crop. Bayer filed an application with the BPI on August 26, 2006 for the approval of the said GMO rice in the country.
Greenpeace has repeatedly requested the BPI for official information regarding the application. The DA and the BPI, however, have been quiet, stating only that it is under review and that Bayer has "complied" with the requirement to submit a PIS under DA AO 8.
To date, there has been no substantial disclosure by BPI nor the DA to the public regarding the application and the actual status of the application. But, if approved, Bayer LL62 will be the first
genetically-modified rice in the Philippines. The Philippines will also be the first country in the world to approve a genetically-altered strain of its most important staple food crop.
Bayer filed the application at the height of the biggest genetic contamination case concerning the US rice supply. Non-GMO US long grain rice crops were found to have been tainted with Bayer’s LL601, a GMO similar to LL62. Export shipments of tainted US long grain rice were subsequently rejected by markets around the world, plunging the US rice industry into a crisis. Genetically-altered rice is not approved in most parts of the world because of concerns about health and environmental risks.
"GMOs have never been proven safe for human consumption and poses grave risks to the environment as they can contaminate GMO-free crops and ecosystems. Once they do, the process of recalling and tracing genetically-altered organisms and their trail of contamination is extremely expensive, if not almost impossible," said Corazon De Jesus, Searice Policy Officer. "Instead of approving different GM varieties, our government should focus its resources in developing traditional varieties and promoting sustainable agriculture which gives better yields without harming the environment and which puts the farmers’ interests, rather than those of greedy multinational agricultural firms, at heart."
Greenpeace seeks injunction vs GMO rice
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/news/view_article.php?article_id=84321
Greenpeace seeks injunction vs GMO rice
By Alexander Villafania
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 05:58pm (Mla time) 08/23/2007
MANILA, Philippines -- The environmental group Greenpeace and the Southeast Asia Regional Initiatives for Community Empowerment (Searice) filed Thursday a petition for injunction with the Quezon City trial court against the use of genetically-modified rice that is pending approval by the government.
The petition questions the constitutionality of for the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Administrative Order 8, series of 2002, which sets the guidelines for the approval and use of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs).
Greenpeace and Searice are also seeking a temporary restraining order against the approval by the DA and Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) of the GMO rice called Bayer LL62 for commercial use.
The petition cited several concerns regarding the use of LL62, particularly the absence of public consultations as required by the Philippine Constitution, particularly Article 3, Section 7, which recognizes people’s rights in matters of public concern.
The groups questioned the timing of Bayer’s application for LL62 in August 2006, which was the height of the controversy in the US over the contamination of rice crops there with Bayer’s LL601 GMO rice.
Greenpeace, in particular, said it requested for official information about Bayer’s application but said both the DA and BPI have yet to answer.
Both Greenpeace and Searice say approval of LL62 will make the Philippines the first country in the world to approve a genetically-altered food crop.
Greenpeace genetic engineering campaigner Danny Ocampo described the system for GMO approval in the country as “hopelessly flawed” because it excludes public representation in such matters.
"How much do Filipinos know about this, and what voice do they have in such a process? Very little. And yet, for the whole country, the impending approval of this genetically altered rice will certainly be an alarming precedent that will irrevocably alter the future of our most important staple food," Ocampo said.
Ocampo also told INQUIRER.net that the BPI has not rejected any of the 44 applications for GMOs, in particular four applications for the propagation in the Philippines pf GMOs -- BT11, Bt corn, roundup-ready and a strain that is a combination of Bt corn and roundup-ready.
He also said the petition would push a review of the approval process for GMO plants in the country.
Copyright 2007 INQUIRER.net. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Greenpeace seeks injunction vs GMO rice
By Alexander Villafania
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 05:58pm (Mla time) 08/23/2007
MANILA, Philippines -- The environmental group Greenpeace and the Southeast Asia Regional Initiatives for Community Empowerment (Searice) filed Thursday a petition for injunction with the Quezon City trial court against the use of genetically-modified rice that is pending approval by the government.
The petition questions the constitutionality of for the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Administrative Order 8, series of 2002, which sets the guidelines for the approval and use of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs).
Greenpeace and Searice are also seeking a temporary restraining order against the approval by the DA and Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) of the GMO rice called Bayer LL62 for commercial use.
The petition cited several concerns regarding the use of LL62, particularly the absence of public consultations as required by the Philippine Constitution, particularly Article 3, Section 7, which recognizes people’s rights in matters of public concern.
The groups questioned the timing of Bayer’s application for LL62 in August 2006, which was the height of the controversy in the US over the contamination of rice crops there with Bayer’s LL601 GMO rice.
Greenpeace, in particular, said it requested for official information about Bayer’s application but said both the DA and BPI have yet to answer.
Both Greenpeace and Searice say approval of LL62 will make the Philippines the first country in the world to approve a genetically-altered food crop.
Greenpeace genetic engineering campaigner Danny Ocampo described the system for GMO approval in the country as “hopelessly flawed” because it excludes public representation in such matters.
"How much do Filipinos know about this, and what voice do they have in such a process? Very little. And yet, for the whole country, the impending approval of this genetically altered rice will certainly be an alarming precedent that will irrevocably alter the future of our most important staple food," Ocampo said.
Ocampo also told INQUIRER.net that the BPI has not rejected any of the 44 applications for GMOs, in particular four applications for the propagation in the Philippines pf GMOs -- BT11, Bt corn, roundup-ready and a strain that is a combination of Bt corn and roundup-ready.
He also said the petition would push a review of the approval process for GMO plants in the country.
Copyright 2007 INQUIRER.net. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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