Policy flaw

Unapproved GM cotton seeds can spell doom

Corroboration by an expert committee set up by the Prime Minister’s Office, of the reports concerning widespread cultivation of unapproved genetically modified (GM) cotton seeds, calls for a thorough review of not only the GM crops regulatory regime but also the entire gamut of policies governing the GM sector. Supervisory lapses of this kind can prove disastrous for the environment, biodiversity as well as human and animal health though, fortunately, no such ill-effect has been traced by the panel in this case. But that does not mean that the risk is over. The seeds of these unapproved herbicide-tolerant GM cotton,