UPDATE: Approval of GM crops in the Philippines
Margust Dela Cerna | August 19, 2024
According to PG Economics Limited and ISAAA’s Global Status reports, genetically modified (GM) crops have increased crop productivity by $261.3 billion, increasing income by $112/hectare.
Therefore, genetically modified crop approval has increased since the first GM corn planting was approved in 2002. GM crop approval can be classified as food, feed, or cultivation approval.
In the Philippines, GMO crops approved for direct use and food/feed additives are Alfalfa, Argentine Canola, Cotton, Eggplant, Maize, Potato, Rice, Soybean, and Sugar Beet.
On the other hand, those that were approved for cultivation both for domestic and non-domestic use are Alfalfa, Apple, Argentine Canola, Bean, Carnation, Chicory, Cotton, Cowpea, Creeping Bentgrass, Eggplant, Eucalyptus, Flax, Maize, Papaya, Petunia, Plum, Polish canola, Poplar, Potato, Rice, Rose, Safflower, Soybean, Squash, Sugar Beet, Sugarcane, Sweet pepper, Tobacco, Tomato, and Wheat.
Currently, the approval process is governed by the regulatory framework of the Joint Department Circular (JDC) No. 1, Series of 2016 which involves six general phases.
After the (Step 1) Initial Application and DA-Bureau Plant Industry Assessment, and the (Step 2) Scientific Validation by DOST, comes the DENR to carry out the Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) which includes field trials and environmental impact assessment.
After the ERA, (Step 4) Food and Feed Safety Assessments are conducted through toxicological studies, nutritional studies, and allergenicity assessments stringently implemented by the Department of Health — hence the numerous crops approved for cultivation compared to food/feed.
Public Consultation and Local Government Unit (LGU) involvement (Step 5) are then conducted with public hearings and LGU engagement to address public concerns from the farmers and community.
Finally, the Final Approval and Monitoring (Step 6) would compile all the findings and recommendations from the agencies and issue a biosafety permit while conducting post-approval monitoring to ensure that compliance with regulations is observed and to mitigate unforeseen adverse effects.
GMOs have proved to give various benefits to the community given it undergoes the regulatory framework. If you wish to know more about the approved GM crops, visit:https://tinyurl.com/gmoPH
Therefore, genetically modified crop approval has increased since the first GM corn planting was approved in 2002. GM crop approval can be classified as food, feed, or cultivation approval.
In the Philippines, GMO crops approved for direct use and food/feed additives are Alfalfa, Argentine Canola, Cotton, Eggplant, Maize, Potato, Rice, Soybean, and Sugar Beet.
On the other hand, those that were approved for cultivation both for domestic and non-domestic use are Alfalfa, Apple, Argentine Canola, Bean, Carnation, Chicory, Cotton, Cowpea, Creeping Bentgrass, Eggplant, Eucalyptus, Flax, Maize, Papaya, Petunia, Plum, Polish canola, Poplar, Potato, Rice, Rose, Safflower, Soybean, Squash, Sugar Beet, Sugarcane, Sweet pepper, Tobacco, Tomato, and Wheat.
Currently, the approval process is governed by the regulatory framework of the Joint Department Circular (JDC) No. 1, Series of 2016 which involves six general phases.
After the (Step 1) Initial Application and DA-Bureau Plant Industry Assessment, and the (Step 2) Scientific Validation by DOST, comes the DENR to carry out the Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) which includes field trials and environmental impact assessment.
After the ERA, (Step 4) Food and Feed Safety Assessments are conducted through toxicological studies, nutritional studies, and allergenicity assessments stringently implemented by the Department of Health — hence the numerous crops approved for cultivation compared to food/feed.
Public Consultation and Local Government Unit (LGU) involvement (Step 5) are then conducted with public hearings and LGU engagement to address public concerns from the farmers and community.
Finally, the Final Approval and Monitoring (Step 6) would compile all the findings and recommendations from the agencies and issue a biosafety permit while conducting post-approval monitoring to ensure that compliance with regulations is observed and to mitigate unforeseen adverse effects.
GMOs have proved to give various benefits to the community given it undergoes the regulatory framework. If you wish to know more about the approved GM crops, visit:
