Philippine approval extension for MON810

The Bureau of Plant Industry in the Philippines has extended its approval for the commercial cultivation of Monsanto's genetically modified insect-resistant MON810 maize until 2012. Monsanto received initial approval for the commercial planting of MON810 in 2002. In 2005, the company was also granted approval for the stacked trait GM insect-resistant and glyphosate-tolerant MON810/NK603 maize. The Philippines is the only country in Asia that allows the cultivation of GM maize. Its Department of Agriculture has been quite supportive of GM maize and has even subsidised it. GM maize is currently being grown in around 225,000 ha in the country.