Field testing of GM varieties set to resume

GEAC okay for 11 varieties, after gap of more than year

The government’s Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), at a meeting here on Friday after over a year, has revalidated the field trials of 11 varieties of genetically modified (GM) crops, including of maize, rice, sorghum, wheat, cotton and groundnut.

These trials had stopped because of objections raised by former Union environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan, despite the GEAC clearing these in March 2013. The result was expiry of validation and a change in location of trial areas. GEAC is a regulatory body under the environment ministry.

The field trials now include varieties of transgenic maize by Monsanto and Pioneer Overseas, sorghum varieties of Central Research Institute of Dryland Agriculture and varieties of transgenic rice from the University of Calcutta and Mahyco.

According to a senior official, who participated in the meeting, the GEAC has also cleared the field trials on some animal vaccines, sent to the department of animal husbandry for tests.

The approvals could again be sent to the environment minister for a final nod. Last month, minister M Veerappa Moily had approved the clearances given by GEAC at its previous meeting on March 21, 2013, on a conditional basis.

Natarajan, who preceded Moily, had held up the permission for field trials despite GEAC approval after a six-member Technical Advisory Committee (TEC) constituted by the Supreme Court had suggested an indefinite moratorium till a proper regulatory mechanism was in place. The ministries of environment and agriculture are set to file an affidavit in the apex court against the TEC order.

Officials said the TEC issue also figured in Friday's meeting, with a prominent invitee giving a note of dissent note on the ground that GEAC was not capable of clearing field trials when the matter was in court.

Some members also raised the issue of a poor regulatory framework for GM crops in the country in the more than four-hour meeting.

Officials said revalidation of field trial approvals was necessary as many of the conditions such as a No-Objection Certificate from states had changed since the earlier meeting. The next meeting of GEAC is scheduled for April 25, where newer varieties of GM crops will come for approval.

In a related development, the Coalition for GM-free India has approached the Election Commission of India against any clearance for field trials, on the ground that it was done with an eye on the coming elections.

The pro-GM group, Association of Biotech-led Enterprises-Agriculture Group welcomed the GEAC decision, saying it would help in continuation of research and development in agricultural biotechnology.