Brazil
30 November 2005

Luisa Massarani, SciDev.Net

Brazil has enacted a law allowing genetically modified (GM) crops and stem cell research, nearly nine months after it was approved by parliament.

The National Congress voted in favour of the law in March (see Brazil says 'yes' to GM crops and stem cell research), but since then debate within the government has focused on how to implement it.

A key issue was what role the National Biosafety Technical Commission (CTNBio) would play. Some felt that the technical committee, which is attached to Brazil's science ministry, should not have the power to authorise the sale of GM crops.

According to the presidential decree enacting the law, dated 23 November, CTNBio will still make these decisions but will only be able to approve the sale of GM crops if 18 of its 27 members agree — instead of the 14 members stated in the legislation approved in March.

For the other decisions, such as authorising research on GM crops, 14 votes in favour will be enough.

Brazil's science ministry will select 12 of CTNBio's members while other ministries will choose the remaining 15.

"The regulation is very important," says Roberto Rodrigues, minister for agriculture. "Finally, we have a law that will let us progress quickly in the research and production of transgenic organisms."

The Brazilian Institute for Consumer Defence, however, says the law breaches Brazil's constitution by giving powers to CTNBio that should belong to the ministries of health, agriculture and environment.

The institute appealed against the new legislation to Brazil's supreme court in June but has not had a response.