Genetically modified (GM) foods
as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) are "foods derived from
organisms whose genetic material (DNA) has been modified in a way that does not
occur naturally[1]".
Presently, most of the available genetically modified food is in the form of
crops which have been imported by different countries in the world to increase
the production yield as demanded by the increasing world population.
In the Philippines, the
Department of Agriculture issued Administrative Order No. 8 Series of 2002
entitled "Rules and Regulation on Importation & Release into the
Environment of Plants and Plant Products derived from the use of Modern Bio
Technology". [2]This
issuance was a move to develop the Agricultural Sector in the Philippines with
the introduction of using modern biotechnology in developing our crops[3].
A scientific research center was built in the University of the Philippines Los
Banos to field test all GM crops such as corn, eggplant and rice.
There were several oppositions
received from environmental groups regarding this move of the government. One
petition filed by Greenpeace Philippines and farmers' group Masipag against
UPLB, UP Mindanao, Department of Agriculture and Department of Environment and
Natural Resources last 2012 was against the nationwide field testing of Bt
(Bacillus Thuringiensis) Eggplant[4].
As a form of protest, several Greenpeace members even tried to destroy the
field testing areas of the Bt Eggplant. [5]In
their petition, the primary contention of the petitioners was that there were
uncertainties in the safety of consumption of GM foods and the possibility of
cross breeding may disrupt natural diversity. [6]
In 2013, the Court of Appeals issued a decision halting the nationwide testing
of Bt eggplant on the grounds that the existing regulations of DA and DOST are
not sufficient to establish the safety of these GM crops to the people and
environment. It was also noted that the assailed Admin Order No. 8 is not compliance
with the National Biosafety Framework as stipulated in Executive Order No. 514[7].
As an answer to the petition, the Supreme Court issued a Writ of Kalikasan to
temporarily stop the field testing of Bt Talong within that same year as this
was considered a violation in the constitutional right to balanced and healthy
ecology. [8]
However, in the recent decision
of the Supreme Court which consolidated all pending petitions regarding this
issue on GM crops is the case of International Service for the Acquisition of
Agri Biotech Applications, Inc. v. Greenpeace Southeast Asia (Philippines)[9].
The court rules that the conduct of field testing of Bt talong is to be
permanently stopped and the DA Admin Order No. 8 series of 2002 was declared
null and void. The Court finds that there is uncertainty, possibility of
irreversible harm and possibility of serious harm in the safety of GM crops to
the health of the people who may consume them in the future.
With all these things considered,
is this issue considered to be a stunt in our local agricultural development?
The simple answer is YES. The introduction of GM foods is with a noble cause,
to be able to eradicate decrease in production yield due to pests, natural
calamities and other natural causes. [10]
With our continuously rising population growth, our natural resources cannot
keep up with our demand for consumption hence the need for scientific
intervention to increase production in the form of GM foods. With this latest
decision from our highest judicial body, our local scientists would be
constrained to work only with our natural occurring resources instead of making
our crops grow to be disaster and pest resilient which may be helpful to our country in the long run given the effects of climate change in the world. The Supreme Court in this case, should have appreciated this long term effect of the usage of GM crops. Relatively speaking, this may
be one of the reasons why our agricultural sector is still considered poorly
developed as compared to our neighboring countries in Asia.
[1] http://www.who.int/topics/food_genetically_modified/en/
[2] http://ap.fftc.agnet.org/ap_db.php?id=320&print=1
[3] Supra
[4] http://www.rappler.com/business/industries/247-agriculture/115327-supreme-court-stops-field-testing-bt-talong-gmo
[5] http://ovcre.uplb.edu.ph/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=96:controversial-eggplant-reaches-supreme-court
[6] http://www.greenpeace.org/seasia/ph/press/releases/Writ-of-Kalikasan-granted-against-Bt-Talong-field-trials/
[7] http://www.ovcrd.upd.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EXECUTIVE-ORDER-NO-514.pdf
[8] Id.
[9] http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/pdf/web/viewer.html?file=/jurisprudence/2015/december2015/209271.pdf
[10]
Id.
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