The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) has assured the public that genetically modified organisms approved for commercial re-lease in the Philippines will undergo the stringent regulatory process to make sure that GMOs entering the country, either for food or for feed are safe, BPI officer-in-charge Joel S. Rudinas said, adding that they are now in the process of assessing Bayer's Liberty Link (LL) Rice 62 or LLRICE62 application for importation for direct use as food, feed and for processing.

Director Alicia Ilaga of the DA's Biotechnology Program expressed confidence that the BPI will do its part to make sure that all GMOs are safe as food; feed or planting materials will be approved entry in the Philippines.

"We have a stringent regulatory system in place and we are confident that only after passing all these scientific assessments will a GMO be allowed entry in the Philippines," Ilaga said.

LLRICE62 is herbicide resistant rice developed in the US. As a matter of regulatory procedure, it has to undergo evaluation in the Philippines to make sure that it is safe for food, feed, and the environment.

According to Rudinas, the evaluation will be based on the compliance of the applicant in terms and conditions set forth under Department of Agriculture's Administrative Order No. 8, Series of 2002.

The BPI issued the statement in reaction to Greenpeace's move to block Bayer's application saying GMOs are risky and may pose health and environmental problems.

The group is set to submit a comprehensive dossier opposing GMOs, particularly the genetically-engineered (GE) Liberty Link (LL) rice.

The BPI, however, assured that GMOs are safe for human and animal consumption, and the environment, will be allowed in here, noting the stringent regulatory requirement being implemented by various government agencies, primarily the DA, citing Administrative Order 8.

"The safety assessments are conducted based on the context of international agreements such as the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, CODEX Alimentarius and International Plant Protection Convention.

He clarified that the evaluation is for food, feed and processing only, and not for plan-ting or commercial production.

Under existing regulatory framework, a prior assessment of the National Committee Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP) for contained trial and after complying the safety requirements of the BPI under limited and multi-location field trials, that the regulated article can be applied for a permit to propagate.

LLRICE62 of Bayer-Philip-pines, according to Rudinas, undergoes a process of scientific and technical assessment.

He said experts from the Bureau of Animal Industry and Bureau of Agriculture Fisheries and Products Standards evaluate every application for feeds and food safety.

According to Rudinas, AO No. 8 Series of 2002 requires the same procedure for members of the respected Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) in evaluating application.

"These agencies and three distinguished STRP members methodically examine the technical dossiers submitted by the applicant relative to the transformation event applied for by Bayer-Philippines.

He assured that the evaluation being done by BPI is rigorous and the BPI and its partner institutions shall ensure that human and animal health, as well as the environment, will not be put to risk.