www.checkbiotech.org ; www.raupp.info ; www.czu.cz

Brazil's biotechnology council postponed its decision on Bayer AG's
gene-modified corn seeds until next month by Paulo Winterstein .
The council finished voting on issues related to research during meetings
yesterday and today, and delayed its vote on commercial seeds until May
16-17, spokeswoman Rachel Mortari said. The council had a backlog of issues
to consider because last month's meeting was canceled after Greenpeace
International protesters stormed the closed-door session.

Representatives of non-governmental organizations were invited to observe
yesterday's discussions, and a court order today made the meeting open to
the rest of the public, Mortari said. The court order doesn't automatically
apply to the meeting next month, she said.

Brazil, which allows farmers to plant gene-altered soybeans, hasn't yet
approved corn engineered to resist bugs and weed killers. Monsanto Co. and
DuPont Co., the world's leading developers of genetically modified seeds,
are also seeking approval for their products in Latin America's biggest
economy.

Brazil is the world's second-biggest soy producer and third-biggest corn
grower.

[www.bloomberg.com]