Editing Precautionary principle (section)

====Philippines====
A petition filed 17 May 2013 by environmental group Greenpeace Southeast Asia and farmer-scientist coalition Masipag (''Magsasaka at Siyentipiko sa Pagpapaunlad ng Agrikultura'') asked the appellate court to stop the planting of Bt eggplant in test fields, saying the impacts of such an undertaking to the environment, native crops and human health are still unknown. The Court of Appeals granted the petition, citing the precautionary principle stating "when human activities may lead to threats of serious and irreversible damage to the environment that is scientifically plausible but uncertain, actions shall be taken to avoid or diminish the threat."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ca.judiciary.gov.ph/cardis/SP00013.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118151419/http://ca.judiciary.gov.ph/cardis/SP00013.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 January 2016 |title=Greenpeace Southeast Asia (Philippines), et. al. vs. Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, et. al. |publisher=Republic of the Philippines Court of Appeals |location=Manila |date=17 May 2013 |access-date=12 March 2016 }}</ref>
Respondents filed a motion for reconsideration in June 2013 and on 20 September 2013 the Court of Appeals chose to uphold their May decision saying the ''bt talong'' field trials violate the people's constitutional right to a "balanced and healthful ecology."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://edigest.elaw.org/sites/default/files/ph.greenpeacese.pdf |title=Greenpeace Southeast Asia (Philippines), et. al. vs. Environment Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, et. al. |publisher=Republic of the Philippines Court of Appeals |location=Manila |date=17 May 2013 |access-date=12 March 2016 |via=[[Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide|ELAW]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105033/http://edigest.elaw.org/sites/default/files/ph.greenpeacese.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://edigest.elaw.org/sites/default/files/ph.eggplantsept2014.pdf |title=Greenpeace Southeast Asia (Philippines), et. al. vs. Environment Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, et. al. |publisher=Republic of the Philippines Court of Appeals |location=Manila |date=20 September 2013 |access-date=12 March 2016 |via=ELAW |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084714/http://edigest.elaw.org/sites/default/files/ph.eggplantsept2014.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Supreme Court on 8 December 2015 permanently stopped the field testing for Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) talong (eggplant), upholding the decision of the Court of Appeals which stopped the field trials for the genetically modified eggplant.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://m.greenpeace.org/international/en/high/press/releases/Philippines-Supreme-Court-bans-development-of-genetically-engineered-products-/ |title=Philippines' Supreme Court bans development of genetically engineered products |publisher=Greenpeace International |date=11 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222131524/http://m.greenpeace.org/international/en/high/press/releases/Philippines-Supreme-Court-bans-development-of-genetically-engineered-products-/ |archive-date=22 December 2015}}</ref> The court is the first in the world to adopt the precautionary principle regarding GMO products in its decision. The Supreme Court decision was later reversed following an appeal by researchers at the University of the Philippines Los Baños.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://opinion.inquirer.net/96038/boost-for-bt-talong|title=Boost for Bt 'talong'|publisher=inquirer.net |date=July 2016 |access-date=19 July 2020}}</ref>