March 8, 2016
Philippines approves updated rulings on GMOs
The Philippines has approved new rulings on genetically modified organisms following a court order for an overhaul of past regulations.
The development could help to avert a food crisis as close to one million corn farmers and buyers of GM soymeal struggle to meet production and supply demands. In December, the issuance fresh permits were suspended by the Supreme Court until new rules are installed.
The updated regulations will be submitted to the Department of Agriculture. They are expected to take effect by April, said Merle Palacpac, chief of the plant quarantine service at the Bureau of Plant Industry.
With the rulings in force, transparency in the approval process for planting, import and commercialisation permits will be improved as well as better regulations on risk assessment and government involvements.
While the new regulations are welcomed by soymeal importers, concerns linger that it could take a longer time for GM crops shipments to be approved.
Under previous requirements, feed millers need only to get sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance for soymeal, said an industry source.
The Filipino GMO approval is closely observed by other countries and Greenpeace which said it would act against the new guidelines. The Philippines, in fact, was the first Asian country to legalise commercial plantings of GMOs for animal feed and food in 2002. For more than a decade, the import of GM crops are also permitted.
Currently, GMOs make up about 70% of the Philippines'' corn output.
- Reuters