May 17, 2007

Brazil's biosafety commision approves Bayer GM corn

Brazil's biosafety commission, CTNBio, Wednesday (May 16) approved the commercial release of a transgenic corn variety from international seed maker Bayer CropScience, according to a report on local Agencia Estado newswire.

There were 17 votes in favour of the approval, four against, and one that asked for more information, the report said.

The corn variety was the first genetically modified organism to be approved by CTNBio since Brazil's biosafety law took effect in 2005.

Bayer's LibertyLink transgenic seed variety, which is resistant to herbicides, has been awaiting approval since February.

Brazil currently does not permit the planting of any type of genetically modified corn.

Bayer CropScience, a unit of Bayer AG sells herbicides, pesticides and fungicides from its facilities in Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul states.

Corn is Brazil's second-largest crop, after soybeans.