Brazil
August 20, 2007
by Luisa Massarani,
SciDev.Net
Brazil's biosafety committee has approved two sets of guidelines
governing the use of genetically modified (GM) corn, despite
criticism from within its ranks.
The Brazilian National Biosafety Technical Committee (CTNBio),
which oversees the use of GM organisms in the country, last week
(16 August) approved plans for monitoring and coexistence.
The creation of the plans was a condition for the commercial
release of GM corn, which was set in motion in May when CTNBio
approved the commercial release of the GM maize 'LibertyLink',
developed by Bayer CropScience (see Bayer wins Brazil GM corn
approval).
The coexistence plan allows GM and non-GM corn to coexist in the
same field. It establishes a minimum distance — 100 metres —
between GM and non-GM corn grown for commercial use.
A shorter distance of 20 metres is allowed if they are separated
by a ten-row vegetable 'fence', made up of plants of a size and
growth cycle similar to that of corn. No details of the
monitoring plan are yet available.
The two sets of rules will act as orientation guidelines for
companies.
President of CTNBio, Walter Colli, said the issues were
discussed thoroughly before the decision was made, according to
a news story from the Ministry of Science and Technology.
However, the decision has drawn criticism from seven of the 27
members of CTNBio, who abandoned the meeting in protest over
both the approval of the plans and the way voting was performed.
According to them, their requests to assess the issue more
carefully were not considered. Contrary to Colli's statement,
they say the discussion was led in a "fast and superficial way".
Discussions concentrated on addressing the commercial release of
GM corn, they say, rather than dealing with biosafety
considerations.
In a letter issued to the press, the seven said, "Biosecurity
must not be confused with the explicit flag of 'adopting
transgenics' in the country. We cannot vote without considering
the precaution principle and the interests of the Brazilian
society."
The 11-member National Council on Biosecurity will now assess
the plans.
CTNBio has also approved the commercial growth of another
variety of GM corn, Monsanto Brazil's 'Guardian', resistant to
Lepidoptera insects.
RELATED RELEASES:
-
Brazilian National
Biosafety Technical Committee approves Monsanto Company
insect-protected corn trait
- CTNBio aprova nova
liberação de milho transgênico para venda no país |
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