Brazil gives final permit for GMO maize varieties
(February 15, 2008) - Brazil's National Biosafety Council (CNBS) gave the final clearance on Tuesday for two varieties of genetically modified maize for commercial use. The varieties were insect-resistant MON 810 produced by Monsanto and Liberty Link made by Bayer CropScience, which is resistant to the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium.
"From the science and technology point of view, it was considered that the approved seeds are safe for human and animal consumption, and for the environment," Brazil's science minister, Sergio Rezende, told reporters.
The varieties had been approved by Brazil's biosafety regulator CTNBio in 2007, but their use still depended on the council's decision. These were the first GMOs to receive final clearance for commercial use in Brazil since 2005, when the government passed a new biosafety law which created the CNBS.
Composed by 11 ministries, the council is responsible for the social-economical analysis of GMOs while CTNBio considers technical aspects.
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