September 19, 2006

Brazil's judge rules in favour of GM soy in Paranagua

A judge for a federal district court in Parana ordered a ban on genetically-modified soy shipments be removed at two port terminals at Paranagua Port in the state on Friday (Sep 18), with both berths permitting GMO soy shipments on Monday, a maritime shippers association, Sindepar, told Dow Jones Newswires.

Berths 212 and 213 in the Paranagua export corridor can now store and ship GM soy. Previously, only one berth was permitted to warehouse and ship transgenic soybeans. The Paranagua Port Authority has to submit a note to the agencies permitting the cargo, which has not happened as of the mid-afternoon hours in south Brazil. Sindepar said the port should release the note on Monday, but did not doubt the state-owned port will try to block the judge's decision.

Sindepar and other groups have been pressuring the Paranagua Port Authority all year to lift a ban on GM soy in an effort to regain markets lost to ports in Sao Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul which permit transgenic soy shipments.

The Parana governor, Roberto Requiao, has announced repeatedly his disapproval of genetically modified organisms and has successfully blocked judicial orders in the past to permit GMO shipments from what was once Brazil's leading soy export corridor.

Paranagua is the second busiest soy port in Brazil, following Santos in Sao Paulo.