The Supreme Court stated Wednesday it has issued a writ of kalikasan towards a number of authorities companies and organizations to cease the discharge of genetically modified rice and eggplant merchandise.
During its En Banc session on Tuesday, the High Court required the respondent secretaries of the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Health, the Bureau of Plant Industry, the Philippine Rice Institute, and the University of the Philippines-Los Baños to file a verified return inside 10 days.
This stemmed from the petition filed by the Magsasaka at Siyentipiko Para sa Pag-Unlad ng Agrikultura et al. for the issuance of a short lived environmental safety order to stop and desist the propagation of Golden Rice and Bt Eggplant till proof of security and compliance with authorized necessities is proven.
The petitioners additionally requested the Court to direct the DA to carry out unbiased dangers and affect assessments, acquire the prior and knowledgeable consent of farmers and indigenous peoples, and implement legal responsibility mechanisms in case of injury, amongst others.
According to the SC, the petitioners stated that Golden Rice was modified by inserting a gene from maize and a gene from micro organism present in soil which permits the plant to biosynthesize beta-carotene within the edible components of rice.
The petitioners additionally argued that the BT Eggplant was designed in order that it might produce its personal toxin to kill a typical pest that consumes and damages eggplants.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
