Govt nod for GM crop field trials violates EC guidelines, says farmers' body

A farmers' body affiliated to the CPI(M) on Saturday criticised the decision of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) to revalidate the field trials for 10 varieties of Genetically Modified (GM) food crops and sought the Election Commission's intervention to "stall the undemocratic move."

"This decision is a bonanza given on the eve of the elections to the Indian and MNC agri businesses and reeks of corrupt intentions. It is undemocratic and violation of Election Commission guidelines," the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) said. It said the decision was taken in a "hasty manner" despite serious concerns expressed by wide sections.

"AIKS requests the Election Commission to intervene to stall this undemocratic move bypassing Parliament and aimed at aiding profiteering by big agri businesses," it said. "The hasty and non-transparent decision of the environment ministry on the eve of announcement of Lok Sabha elections to allow field trials despite the absence of a stringent mechanism to ensure bio-safety as well as a strong regulatory body opened the floodgates for field trials and set in motion these fast-paced developments," it said.

The GEAC, a statutory body for approving GM crops, had yesterday decided to revalidated proposals for wider field trials for 10 GM crops including wheat and rice. Over 70 new proposals including of many food crops will also be examined by GEAC in April.

AIKS said the applications for revalidation were made by companies whose permits had lapsed as they were opposed by states.

The decision will allow Mahyco, BASF India and Monsanto India to go ahead with wider or phase-II field trials for these genetically modified crops.