Philippines Allows Import of Bt Cotton Seeds from India

Cotton varieties genetically modified to resist pest infestation may soon take roots in the Philippines after the Bureau of Plant Industries (BPI) issued a permit to import Bt cotton seeds from India for greenhouse trials. The permit was issued in response to the request made by the Philippine Cotton Development Authority (CDA), an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture. CDA was earlier able to secure permission from the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines to test Bt cotton lines.

Commodity Online reports that CDA had planned to import and test Bt cotton seeds developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) from China but decided to source it from India due to some phytosanitary and quarantine issues. Bt cotton trials are expected to commence in early 2009 at three possible sites. The Philippine government is also looking into a possible collaboration with China to develop the technology.

Read more at http://www.commodityonline.com/news/India%E2%80%99s-Bt-Cotton-to-spin-success-in-Philippines-12917-3-1.html The FAS GAIN Report is available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200811/146306584.pdf For more information on biotechnology in the Philippines, contact Jenny Panopio at jap@agri.searca.org