New varieties of genetically modified (GM) crops could be cleared for commercial use in Brazil by December, according to the government's Technical Commission on Biotechnology (CTNBio).

The announcement follows the statement by a federal tribunal that the majority of its judges recognise CTNBio's power to determine which GM crops can be sold in Brazil. For the past five years, the commission's authority has been brought into question by court injunctions filed by environmental group Greenpeace and Brazilian consumer watchdog Idec.

According to CTNBio, GM corn, cotton and rice varieties developed by companies including Monsanto, BASF and Bayer Seeds are likely to be the first crops to be granted clearance. But Greenpeace and Idec say they will appeal against the tribunal's decision before it becomes binding.

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