Brazil bill to prohibits sales of herbicide tolerant transgenic seed

A bill that prohibits the sale, the growth and the imports of transgenic seeds with tolerance to herbicides is being analyzed by the House of Representatives in Brazil. The proposal is authored by representative Ivan Valente (Freedom and Socialism Party - São Paulo). The proposal also prohibits imports of food products obtained from these plants.

 

"Genetically modified plants tolerant to herbicides do not die with the application of the agrochemicals, but absorb it, increasing the residual level of this substance in the product that will be used as a food by the consumer", said the politician. In his opinion, this can be harmful to human health. "Farmers can take operational advantage using cultivars tolerant to herbicides, but, for the consumer of food products, there is not any advantage", added the representative.

 

The proposal, however, does not include details on how the control would be enforced, just points out to regulate the measure in 180 days. The bill will be analyzed by Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Rural Development and others. If it is considered constitutional, the bill will be then voted on the house floor.