New Delhi, India
December 30, 2006
|
Supreme Court concerned over risks of open field
trials of GM seeds |
Hearing on a petition
against large scale field trials of genetically modified
(GM) seeds on December 15, the Supreme Court shared
public concerns and its potential to corrupt traditional
crops like rice, cotton, brinjal, tomato, cauliflower,
etc. However, it did not accede to the petitioner plea
for a total ban on field trials until the Genetic
Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) bring out the
outcome of the laboratory safety tests on GM seeds. On
the specific case of field trials of GM mustard seed
being carried out by the Delhi University, the court
allowed continuance of the field trials and asked the
GEAC to submit a
report on the safety aspect of the field trial. The
court also warned Delhi University that the plants will
have to be uprooted if found to be ecologically
dangerous. (Source: Times of India, 12/16/06 via
USDA/FAS GAIN report IN6113) |
The
Ministry of Environment and Forests says that
the Supreme Court
has imposed no restriction on the ongoing field trials of GM
crops.
The Ministry has clarified that
field trials being conducted with the approval of the Review
Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) and the
Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) are legal.
It further stated that before
declaring the field trials as illegal, documentary evidence on
the approval issued by the RCGM and the status of compliance in
respect of physical and biological containment stipulated in the
approval order may be verified.
The Honorable Supreme Court vide
order dated 22.09.2006 has directed the GEAC to stop granting
fresh approvals for field trials. Subsequent to the Court order
the GEAC has not approved any field trials of GM crops. |
