Bayer “Liberty Link” Maize Banned In Brazil

German biotechnology company Bayer has met resistance in Brazil where the Paraná Federal Court revoked the authorisation for the commercial release of the company’s “Liberty Link” genetically modified maize on 27 July, according to a press release posted on the website of one of the civil lawsuit complainants.

Described as a “landmark,” the ruling prohibits the marketing of the genetically modified maize because of a lack of post-release monitoring. The judge also revoked authorisation for this plant to be cultivated in the north and northeast of Brazil due to the lack of studies on potential impacts of the technology on the local biodiversity. The ruling also invalidates a previous approval given by the Brazilian National Biosafety Technical Commission (CTNBio) for the commercial release of the maize.

CTNBio is now under obligation to ensure comprehensive access to the procedures for the approval of GMOs. The civil lawsuit complainants were Terra de Direitos, the Agricultura Familiar e agroecologia, the Instituto Brasileiro de Defesa do Consumidor and the National Small Farmers’ Association, and mainly challenged the CTNBio’s approval of GM maize without proper biosafety regulations and environmental studies.