DENR recommendation:
After thorough and scientific review and evaluation of the documents provided by the Bureau of Plant lndustry (BPl) to the DENR Biosafety Committee within the prescribed period pursuant to Joint Department Circular (JDC) No.1 s.2016 on the application of Monsanto Philippines, Inc. for direct use for feed, food or processing of Genetically Modified Soybean tolerant to glyphosate herbicide stacked trait product MON87705 x MON87708 x MON89788, the following are the observations and recommendations:
1. The effect of the regulated article on the environment depends largely on the viability of the product to be utilized for direct use. lf the article is transported in a nonviable form, there is no danger to the environment;
2. Due to the absence of a specified Environmental Management Plan (EMP) by the traders/importers, the Committee would like to recommend that it be added to the requirements for the issuance of an import permit by the Bureau of Plant lndustry (BPl) (Article Vlll, Section 26 of JDC No,1 s.2016);
3. It is suggested that BPI ensure the following:
a) development of guidelines on the EMP in coordination with DENR;
b) implementation of the EMP by the traders/importers involved in the import, handling, processing and transport of viable soybean MON87705 x MON87708 x MON89788 commodity products; and
c) Strict monitoring of the regulated article from port of entry to the trader's/importer's storage/warehouse (Section 32 of the JDC No. 1 s.2016);
Based on the above considerations and with the submitted sworn statement and accountability of the proponent, a biosafety permit may be issued to the proponent if the abovementioned recommendations are followed.
DOH recommendation:
1. Find that regulated article applied for direct use for food and feed or for processing (FFP) does not require changes in the usual practices in unloading, loading, transport, storage and processing. As such, the regulated article is as safe as its conventional counterpart and is not expected to pose any significant risk to human and animal health and environment while in transit, storage and processing.
2. Scientific pieces of evidences from provided references i.e. literatures show that regulated article applied for direct use as food and feed or for processing (FFP) is as safe as its conventional counterpart and shall not pose any significant risk to human and animal health and on the environment.
3. It is suggested that Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) ensure the following:
a. Strict monitoring of the regulated article from port of entry to the trader’s / importer’s storage/warehouse as stated in Section 32 of the JDC No. 1 series, 2016.
b. The BPI to include in the insurance of permit for the release of this product the following conditions:
b.1. Any spillage (during unloading and loading/hauling and transport unloading and storage) shall be collected and cleaned up immediately.
b.2. Transportation of the consignment from the port of entry to any destination within the country shall be in closed containers.
b.3. There shall be a clear labeling of the product from importation down to all levels of marketing stating that it is only for the purpose of direct use for food and feed or for processing and is not to be used as planting materials.
4. Based on the above considerations and with the submitted sworn statement and accountability of the proponent, this recommendation is being submitted to BPI related to the processing and issuance of a biosafety permit for direct use as food and feed or for processing of soybean MON87705 x MON87708 x MON89788.