Monsanto Praises Brazilian Biosafety Law

ST. LOUIS - Mar 24/05 - SNS -- Monsanto expressed pleasure with today's signing of a biosafety bill into law by Brazil’s President Lula.

The law establishes the regulatory process for the approval of biotech crops, which Monsanto describes as another indication of the growing acceptance of biotechnology around the world.

Brett Begemann, Monsanto’s Executive Vice President, International, said, "The biosafety law demonstrates that Brazil is committed to a science-based regulatory system. This law, combined with a solid demonstration for respecting intellectual property protection, would make it possible for Monsanto to consider the introduction of new technology into Brazil."

Begemann said that a working system that allows Monsanto to be compensated for the use of its technology must be firmly established before the company brings new products to Brazil.

Monsanto has been working since 1997 for the right to legally commercialize Roundup Ready soybeans in Brazil. The CTNBio regulatory agency will continue to have the approval authority for research and commercialization of biotech crops under the new law just enacted.

Grower adoption of agricultural biotechnology continues to grow. In 2004, growers in 18 countries planted 200 million acres (81 million hectares) of biotechnology crops, an increase of 20% over 2003.