'Govt nod for GM crop field trials violates EC guidelines'

A farmers' body affiliated to the CPI(M) today criticised the decision of the GEAC to revalidate the field trials for ten varieties of Genetically Modified 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 agribusinesses and reeks of corrupt intentions. It is undemocratic and violation of Election Commission guidelines," the All India Kisan Sabha said in a release here.
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 agribusinesses," it said.

"The hasty and intransparent 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 Genetic Engineering Advisory Committee (GEAC), a statutory body for approving genetically modified crops, had yesterday decided to re-validated proposals for wider field trials for 10 genetically modified crops including wheat and rice.

Rice, wheat and maize which form the part of staple diet in most parts of India, cotton and sorghum are some of the crops allowed for trials over large areas.

Over 70 new proposals including of many food crops will also be examined by GEAC in April.
AIKS said that 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.