A local court in the Philippines has prohibited the agriculture department from approving Bayer Cropscience's application to process genetically modified rice in the country.

Bayer had applied to use transgenic rice for processing into food and feed.

Although the Department of Agriculture plans to file a motion for reconsideration, it may take years to resolve the main case.

Bayer's application, if approved, would only allow for the first time the use of genetically-modified rice in the country, but wouldn't provide clearance for growing genetically-modified rice.