Philippines: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual
In December 2015, the Philippines Supreme Court (SC) enjoined Bt eggplant trials and struck down existing genetic engineering (GE) regulations so that a new set of rules could be promulgated. An interdepartmental working group drafted new GE regulations in a Joint Departmental Circular (JDC) that was approved on March 2016. In a July 26, 2016 press briefing, and subsequently in its August 18, 2016 final decision issuance, the SC reversed course and lifted restrictions to commercialize Bt eggplant, but upheld that the JDC supersedes existing GE rules. The shift in biotechnology regulations has resulted in delays in the processing of biosafety permits, although there have been no reported trade disruptions to date.
