Sub-committee on genetically-modified mustard had health experts: Government

The environment ministry said on Sunday the sub-committee constituted by the country's biotech regulator Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) to examine the bio-safety data on genetically-modified (GM) mustard had in it experts on subjects relevant to safety evaluation of the hybrid, including a health expert.

The statement came days after an anti-GM group alleged that sub-committee formed by GEAC did not have any health expert and three of its members have conflict of interest.

The ministry in its clarification said that B Sesikeran was in the sub-committee as a health expert. He is an MD in pathology and former director, National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Activists opposed to the GM mustard had alleged that Sesikeran had serious conflict of interest. "The GEAC in its 126th meeting held on January 4 this year constituted a sub-committee with expert scientists in specific subjects relevant to safety evaluation of Genetically Engineered (GE) Crops.

"The sub-committee also consists of a health expert,B Sesikeran, who is an MD in pathology and former director, National Institute of Nutrition Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and is currently serving as chairman, Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation," an official statement said. Reacting to the clarification, anti-GM group, Coalition for a GM-Free India, which had levelled the accusations, said it repeats what it had said in its recent report on the matter of this sub-committee and the "lack of reliability" on its assessment processes.

"Sesikeran was missing from GEAC including in the crucial meeting of the sub-committee in which the sub-committee created its report in February 2016, which was submitted to GEAC in its 127th meeting," Kavitha Kuruganti from the Coalition told PTI.

The Coalition had alleged that Sesikeran, was a board member of International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) which has Bayer, BASF, Monsanto and others as members. "It is important to note that he (Sesikeran) was a member of the expert committee headed by Anupam Verma for the CGMCP project, advising on what studies to take up for health safety assessment of GM mustard.

"...also he conducted the studies as former director of NIN, he also gave a green signal as chairperson of RCGM in DBT and now sits in GEAC as a member and was included in the sub-committee! He however did not attend the February 2 meeting. From all information available, he did not take part in the sub-committee processes," the Coalition had alleged.