DU report on transgenic mustard forwarded to biotech regulator

The revised report of Delhi University's Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants, which seeks permission for environmental release of transgenic mustard, has been forwarded to the sub-committee of the country's biotech regulator, Rajya Sabha was told today.
"The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) in its meeting on February 5, 2016 had directed the applicant (Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants, University of Delhi) to revise the biosafety dossier in respect of their appplication for environmental release of transgenic mustard hybird -DMH, developed using barnase, barstar and bar genes.
"The revised dossier has been forwarded to the Sub-Committee of the GEAC constituted for the purpose of review and experts' comments," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a written reply.

He said as per data generated during field trials, creation of a viable hybridisation system in mustard using GM technology claims to give 25-30 per cent more yield than the current national and zonal checks.
"To strengthen the science-based regulatory process, the department of biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology introduced the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India Bill (BRAI) with an objective to regulate research, transport, import and manufacture and use of organisms and products of modern biotechnology," Javadekar said.
The bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on April 22, 2013 after comprehensive consultation with all stakeholders including Planning commission (now Niti Aayog) which got lapsed on dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha, he said.

Javadekar had earlier told Lok Sabha that GEAC has asked Delhi University's Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants, to "revise" the bio-safety report following concerns raised by farmers' bodies and NGOs.
He had said GEAC has received representations from various NGOs and farmers' bodies expressing concern over the safety of transgenic mustard and is following a case by case assessment of genetically modified (GM) crops taking into account the "safety, efficacy, stability and agronomic performance".