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The Pretoria High Court today handed down judgement in Biowatch's costs appeal

06 November 2007

The appeal was dismissed and Biowatch was ordered to pay the legal costs of the Minister of Agriculture, the Registrar Genetic Resources, the Executive Council for Genetically Modified Organisms and Monsanto South Africa.

Biowatch is clearly taken aback by this judgement, but vows to continue playing a watchdog role and to continue fighting for the public's constitutional right to know and more importantly, to choose.

Biowatch South Africa's appeal on 23 April 2007 before judges Mynhardt, Poswa and Molopa was for a withdrawal of the order that it pay the legal costs of Monsanto South Africa (Pty) Ltd and for the statutory bodies to be ordered to pay Biowatch's legal costs.

In the costs appeal judgement, signed by judges Mynhardt and Molopa, it is acknowledged that Biowatch, in its initial approach to the courts for access to information about the permitting of GM crops, had acted in the public interest, had been substantially successful in obtaining the relief it had sought and had been forced to go to court to get this relief.

Biowatch and its legal counsel are studying the judgement, and will make a decision about how to proceed in due course. To read the judgement go to www.biowatch.org.za.

For more information please contact director, Leslie Liddell on 021 447 5939 or 073 307 8873.

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