Bhushan sends notice to biotech regulator on GM mustard

Accusing GEAC of "serious non- governance" and undertaking an "underground process to hide its misdeed", lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan today shot off a notice to the biotech regulator, asking it to make public the full biosafety dossier of GM mustard.
Noting that the risk assessment report put up by the Environment Ministry is of "limited value", the notice sent by Bhushan to Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) chairman Amita Prasad also asked the regulator to provide a minimum time of 120 days for feedback on the report to allow independent scientists nationally and internationally to respond.
"GEAC is required to immediately upload the full dossier with its raw data on the ministry website with a minimum time- scale for feedback of 120 days to allow independent scientists nationally and internationally to respond.

"Please also ensure that it is in printable format. It would be good if GEAC would show more respect for science and independent scientists that engage in this process," the notice sidd.
GEAC had constituted a sub-committee of scientific experts to examine the biosafety data on GM mustard.
After the committee examined it, the report was placed on the Environment Ministry's website yesterday inviting comments from stakeholders within a period of 30 days before the biotech regulator took a decision.

The report claimed that the hybrid variety did not pose any risk to biodiversity or agro-ecosystem.
"You have now much belatedly put out some data of limited value while not making public the essential biosafety dossier.

"Apparently our regulatory bodies continue to repeat their historical mistakes of serious non-governance of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and then take recourse to an underground process of regulation to hide their misdeed that is in violation of constitutional rights of the people of this country," the notice said.
Talking to PTI, Bhushan said that CIC has ordered that the risk assessment report be put on the website.
The Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants
(CGMCP) of Delhi University had applied for GEAC's approval for environmental release of hybrid DMH-11 for the development of new generation hybrids.
Bhushan said that he was sending the notice on the matter of DMH-11 and its two GMOs parental lines and in reference to contempt application filed by him against GEAC with regard to non-compliance with the orders of Supreme Court.

He said that there is a report of the Parliamentary Committee and a report of the technical experts committee that state that India's regulatory sector is in "complete shambles" and unless that system is set right, one cannot allow commercial or environmental releases of GM organisms.
"They had recommended a 10-year moratorium so that the system can be put in place. The renewed push is coming from companies like Monsanto. It is a legal notice (that I have sent)," he told