New Delhi, India
November 22, 2007
Bt cotton is the only genetically
engineered crop approved by the
Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) for commercial
cultivation in nine cotton growing states.
These states are:
- Andhra Pradesh
- Gujarat
- Haryana
- Karnataka
- Madhya Pradesh
- Maharashtra
- Punjab
- Rajasthan
- Tamil Nadu
The total area under Bt cotton
cultivation is approximately 128,44,000 acres. The GEAC has also
approved the field testing of Bt rice, Bt okra, Bt brinjal, Bt
tomato, Bt potato, Bt groundnut and Bt cotton expressing new
gene events of which field trials of Bt rice, Bt okra, Bt
brinjal and Bt cotton have been initiated. The states where
field trials of GM crops have been undertaken include Andhra
Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana,
Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab,
Rajasthan, Tamilnadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
Extensive Rules and guidelines have been framed for evaluating
the environmental and health safety aspects of genetically
modified crops. The GEAC also takes into consideration the
results of the biosafety data, findings of the field trials as
well as recommendations of the Monitoring cum Evaluation
Committee (MEC) constituted by the Government for evaluating the
field trials of GM crops and recommendations of the Indian
Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) before approving the GM
crop for commercial cultivation. Only those transgenic crops
which are found to be safe for human consumption as well as the
environment are approved for commercial release
This information was given by the
Minister of State in the
Ministry of Environment and Forests, Sh. Namo Narain Meena
in a written reply to question in the Rajya Sabha today |
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