Mar. 3, 2008
The Brazilian government expects a calmer year for the approval body on genetically modified crop products with fewer appeals. The Minister of Science and Technology, Sergio Razende, predicts a more stable year ahead for the national technical commission for biosafety, the CTNBio, following a report from the advocate general earlier this year. The decisions of the CTNBio to approve three GM maize products last year were subject to various appeals. They raised doubts over whether the commission had the final word on such decisions. The report confirmed that it does.
The prediction came as the government reappointed Dr Walter Colli as president. Some 12 appointments were made to the new 27-member commission for a two-year term, the official state news agency, Agencia Brasil, reports. The body will be composed of members from four sectors: the environment and human, animal and vegetable health, and have representatives from the Ministries of Science, Agriculture, Health and Agrarian Development. Some 150 scientists applied for the posts.
The appointments came on the first day of the first monthly CTNBio meeting of 2008. It was held in late February and was to discuss eleven applications for commercial approval of GMOs. They included an approval request for Bayer CropScience's glufosinate-tolerant LibertyLink cotton. Mr Rezende noted that the commission had considered 847 proposals and applications in the previous two years, including the three commercial approvals for GM maize. Approvals require ratification from the 11 Ministry national biosafety council, the CNBS.
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