The GEAC had earlier given the approval for the release of GM brinjal (Bt brinjal) but the Environment Ministry had subsequently put a moratorium on its commercialisation following widespread protest against GM food crops.
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An Environment Ministry sub-committee report declared the GM mustard technology safe for consumption and environment, saying that it does not raise any public health concerns for human beings and animals, but environmentalists are not satisfied and have been demanding that the ministry should make all the documents on the study available.The environment ministry has asked for comments from the public, before Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) takes the final decision on GM mustard.
New Delhi-based Pental said he was willing to help the government with that goal and would approach the state-run Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to pass on a laboratory-tested GM cotton variety his team has developed over the past decade.
If the green watchdog goes in favour of the commercial release of GM mustard, it will be the first genetically-modified food crop to be cleared for cultivation in India.
The approval by the panel of scientists puts genetically-modified mustard a step closer to gaining state approval. The MoEFCC has now put up the 133-page “Assessment of Food Safety and Environmental Safety” report in public domain, seeking public comments and objections till October 5.
“Therefore, this GM mustard should under no circumstances be approved for commercial release”.
A senior environment ministry official, who did not wish to be identified, said they have received the letter from ASHA.
The party said that according to the Swaminathan Task Force on Biotechnology (2004), the report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee (2012) and the majority report of the Technical Expert Committee (TEC) appointed by the Supreme Court ( 2013), no genetic modification should be attempted for crops in their centres of origin and diversity.
Monday’s development has left activists furious with the Anil Madhav Dave-led environment ministry. “This is a violation of the CIC orders and also contrary to what GEAC itself has been promising to the CIC in the hearings of an ongoing case”, the letter written by Kavitha Kuruganti from the Coalition from GM Free India stated.
“Everything about the process of collecting public feedback reeks of non-serious intent on a biased assessment that is pre-concluded”, JD (U) said. We write to you now to demand that the full bio-safety data be put out into the public domain immediately if this feedback process has to be a meaningful and scientific process. “Such a conclusion was drawn after two meetings in 15 days’ time, with the third meeting on August 11 giving clearance”, she said.
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The letter further mentioned that all feedback should be carefully examined and not curtailed to formats conveniently created to keep out important questions and queries.
