The Court of Appeals on Thursday, September 26, affirmed its earlier ruling banning field trials of genetically-modified eggplant on Philippine soil. Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) eggplant, or "super talong (eggplant)," is genetically-engineered to produce its own insecticide to protect it from crop-damaging pests.
A petition filed last May 17 by environmental group Greenpeace Southeast Asia and farmer-scientist coalition Masipag (Magsasaka at Siyentipiko sa Pagpapaunlad ng Agrikultura) asked the appellate court to stop the planting of Bt eggplant in test fields, saying the impacts of such an undertaking to the environment, native crops and human health are still unknown.
The court ordered the respondents, which include the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Plant Industry, University of the Philippines Los Baños Foundation Inc, UP Mindanao Foundation Inc, to permanently "cease and desist" from conducting field trials. The CA also commanded the respondents to rehabilitate the areas affected by the field testing. According to Greenpeace, tests have already been conducted in Laguna; Pili, Camarines Sur; Sta Maria, Pangasinan; Davao City and Kabacan, North Cotabato.
In their motion for reconsideration, the respondents argued that the bt talong field trials were being conducted in a controlled and isolated environment. If the field trials prove the GM plant poses risks to health and environment, they would not recommend it for direct use or propagation.
The ruling stated: "Like any other right, the right to academic freedom ends when the overriding public welfare calls for some restraint. The right to academic freedom does not, in any way, give the respondent UPLB unbridled freedom to conduct, experimentation, studies and research that may put to risk the health of the people and the environment which are equally protected under our fundamental law."
A petition filed last May 17 by environmental group Greenpeace Southeast Asia and farmer-scientist coalition Masipag (Magsasaka at Siyentipiko sa Pagpapaunlad ng Agrikultura) asked the appellate court to stop the planting of Bt eggplant in test fields, saying the impacts of such an undertaking to the environment, native crops and human health are still unknown.
The court ordered the respondents, which include the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Plant Industry, University of the Philippines Los Baños Foundation Inc, UP Mindanao Foundation Inc, to permanently "cease and desist" from conducting field trials. The CA also commanded the respondents to rehabilitate the areas affected by the field testing. According to Greenpeace, tests have already been conducted in Laguna; Pili, Camarines Sur; Sta Maria, Pangasinan; Davao City and Kabacan, North Cotabato.
In their motion for reconsideration, the respondents argued that the bt talong field trials were being conducted in a controlled and isolated environment. If the field trials prove the GM plant poses risks to health and environment, they would not recommend it for direct use or propagation.
The ruling stated: "Like any other right, the right to academic freedom ends when the overriding public welfare calls for some restraint. The right to academic freedom does not, in any way, give the respondent UPLB unbridled freedom to conduct, experimentation, studies and research that may put to risk the health of the people and the environment which are equally protected under our fundamental law."
