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Brazil's ministry of environment (moe) has objected to the go ahead given to the use and sale of transgenic seed major Monsanto's genetically modified (gm) cotton variety 'Bollgard' in the country. The seed recently got the nod from Brazil's national technical commission for biosafety (ctnbio) by 11 votes to one; moe's was the only vote of dissent. Brazil's senate and national congress have already approved a new biosafety legislation for using and selling gm crops (see Down To Earth, 'Brazil gives in', March 31, 2005), which awaits the president's approval.
moe says the decision flouts the precautionary principle, Brazil's environmental law and the Cartagena Protocol on biosafety, a global pact. It claims the risks of growing gm cotton haven't been assessed in the country's settings.