CA ruling stops imports of Bt talong, golden rice

The importation of regulated genetically modified organisms (GMO) except for Bt talong and golden rice would continue as they are not covered by the recent decision of the Court of Appeals, according to the Department of Agriculture.

- JASPER EMMANUEL ARCALAS

DA Undersecretary Asis Perez has issued a memorandum instructing Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) director Gerald Glenn Panganiban to stop issuing any sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPSIC) that would allow the entry of Bt talong and golden rice in the country following the ruling of the appellate court.

However, Perez ordered BPI to continue issuing SPSICs for all other commodities except for the two regulated products covered by the CA decision to protect the country’s borders from SPS threats.

An SPSIC certifies that an imported product is safe to human, animal or plant life and health.

BPI, an attached agency of the DA, oversees the regulation of all plant materials, including GMOs, in the country. 

Aside from Bt