DA turns down Greenpeace bid to ban Bt corn

The Department of Agriculture (DA) will stand pat on its decision allowing the commercialization of the genetically-modified Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn, rejecting anew, calls for a moratorium on its production.

Agriculture Secretary Luis P. Lorenzo Jr. said there is no sufficient scientific evidence that would warrant a moratorium on the commercialization of Bt corn.

Non-govenrment organizations led by Greenpeace International are asking the DA to reverse an earlier policy that permits the commercial production of Bt corn, and in the process, revoke the license it issued late last year to Monsanto Philippines Inc. (MPI), the first company that began Bt corn production last January.

Bt corn is genetically engineered corn in which a synthetic version of a gene from the soil bacterium, bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), is inserted so that the plant produces its own Bt toxins to kill pests such as the corn borer. Greenpeace claims the Bt toxin also harms beneficial inspect species.

"There is no new scientific evidence so far and that is one of the requirements before we could consider a moratorium," said Lorenzo.

DA assistant secretary for policy and planning Segfredo R. Serrano added that a moratorium will require another creation of a scientific and technical review panel (STRP) which should come up with "overwhelming" new evidence that will give the government no choice but to revoke MPI’s license.

"The members of the STRP that approved Bt corn commercialization are eminent scientists. Their assessments are trustworthy, and the results of their study are public documents. You have to constitute another STRP to hear this petition. It must be independent. They must present a contrary opinion to overturn the previous decision," he said.

Serrano added the new STRP’s findings will have to be re-evaluated. He said the arguments of NGOs against Bt corn have all been addressed prior to last year’s decision to allow its commercialization.

NGOs led by Greenpeace International are staging a hunger strike at the DA to force a moratorium on the production of Bt corn.

MPI applied for the commercialization of Bt corn with the BPI last Sept. 15.

Its application was approved last Dec. 3 by BPI Director Blo Umpar Adiong. This is the first commercial planting in the Philippines of a genetically modified crop and is seen as a step to achieve self-sufficiency in corn production.

MPI’s license is valid for five years, and is renewable for successive 5-year periods if the applicant can prove that continued production of the regulated product does not pose any significant risks to health and the environment.

Also, the BPI can revoke MPI’s license if it receives new information that the product could be potentially damaging to health and the environment.