Philippines becomes the 2nd country to approve commercial production of BT eggplant

The long wait is now over, as commercial production of the borer-resistant Bt Eggplant (Event EE-1) in the Philippines has been approved for October 2022. With this regulatory milestone, the Philippines becomes the world's second country, after Bangladesh, to permit commercial propagation of borer-resistant Bt eggplant. The Bureau of Plant Industry of the Department of Agriculture granted the "Biosafety Permit for Commercial Propagation (No. 22-001 Propa)" of Bt Eggplant (Event EE-1) to the University of the Philippines Los Banos under the DOST-DA-DENR-DOH-DILG Joint Department Circular (JDC) No. 1, Series of 2021. (UPLB). The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority certified the Event EE-1 as a Plant Incorporated Protectant (Group 11A Insecticide) following stringent and detailed biosafety assessments by the Joint Assessment Group comprising members from Competent National Authorities-Biosafety Committees. Before this commercial propagation permission, the DA-BPI authorized Bt ...