More GM misery inflicted on India, GEAC allows import of GM food.

[Jagannath Chatterjee]

As per the enclosed report, not only Bt Cotton, Bt Brinjal, Soyabean oil, GM drugs too have been allowed for clinical trials. I am forced to ask, how can we explain this madness? The whole of EU and many other countries including Brazil and Japan have expressed grave concerns over GM produce. America too is divided on the issue with protests from concerned citizen. What has our government done to educate the public over GM food dangers? Why are we stepping in where the angels fear to tread?

 

WHY IS THE INDIAN PRESS AND MEDIA SILENT ON THIS ISSUE?

 

Horrified at the developments,

Jagannath.

 

GM WATCH daily
http://www.gmwatch.org
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Despite all the suffering and suicides it has already inflicted via GM
crops, India's GM regulatory body - the GEAC - has just approved the
commercial release of 36 more varieties of transgenic Bt cotton and it is
also considering approving Br brinjals!

Details of all their decisions in their press release below.
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http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=18042
GEAC APPROVES PROPOSALS

17:48 IST
The GEAC in the Ministry of Environment & Forests has approved the
following proposals:

A.         Import of GM Soybean oil.

...On an interim basis the GEAC approved the import of refined soybean
oil subject to certification from the country of export that it has
been derived from Roundup Ready Soybeans.  In case of crude degummed
soybean oil, in addition to the certification, regarding it having been
derived from Round up Ready Soyabean, the importer is also required to
submit the analytical report from either CFTRI/NIN/Shri Ram Laboratories on
the composition of crude-degummed Soybean oil both pre and post
processing stage before a final view is taken. The test results should also
include the pre and post refining levels of glyphosate in the oil as well
as in the residue.  The GEAC clearance does not exempt the importers
from the requirements under PFA.   

B.         Commercial Release of transgenic Crops:

The GEAC has approved commercial release of Bt Cotton hybrids in the
North, Central and South zones as follows:

a.         North Zone                    :           8 hybrids

b.         Central Zone      :           12 hybrids

c.         South zone                    :           16 hybrids

In addition to Bt hybrids containing the Cry 1 Ac gene (MON 531 event),
which was earlier approved by the GEAC and is in commercial cultivation
since 2002. the GEAC  approved hybrids with three new gene/event namely
Bt hybrids expressing encoding fusion genes (cry 1Ab+Cry Ac) 'GFM
developed by M/s Nath Seeds,  Bt hybrids expressing  cry 1Ac gene (Event-1)
by M/s JK Seeds Ltd and Bt hybrids expressing  stacked genes Cry1 Ac
and Cry 2Ab (MON 15985 event)—BG-II  by M/s Mahyco.

C.         Large Scale Trial of bt Cotton

The GEAC has approved large scale trials of Bt Cotton hybrids in the
North, Central and South zones as follows:

a.         North Zone        : 16  hybrids containing cry 1 Ac (Mon 531
event ) and 21 hybrids expressing new gene events.

b.         Central Zone: 20  hybrids containing cry 1 Ac (Mon 531 event
) and 12 hybrids expressing new gene events.

c.         South zone: 25  hybrids containing cry 1 Ac (Mon 531 event )
and 27 hybrids expressing new gene events.

D.         Streamlining of the Regulatory Procedure for transgenic
crops.

The MoEF  has constituted a sub-Committee on Bt cotton and related
issues  under the Chairmanship of Dr C D Mayee, Chairman Agricultural
Scientist Recruitment Board and Co-Chair GEAC  with a view to rationalize
the  regulatory procedure and facilitate introduction of  new technology
to make available cheaper options to farmers.

E.         Transgenic Bt Brinjal developed by M/s Mahyco—First GM Food
crop

M/s Mayhco has produced transgenic brinjal plants with cry 1Ac gene
from Bacillus thuringiensis tolerant to the fruit and shoot borer, one of
the major pests which attack the brinjal crop throughout its life
cycle.  Their application for large scale trials and seed production of 
four Bt Brinjal hybrids namely  MHB-4 Bt, MHB 9 Bt MHB 80 Bt and MHBJ-99
Bt  containing cry 1 Ac gene during Kharif 2006 is under consideration
of the GEAC.  The biosafety data will be placed on MoEF website
env...@nic.in under the sub heading GEAC Clearance shortly.

F.         Recombinant Pharma

The GEAC has approved the import and conduct of Phase II clinical
trials with Chimerivaxtm –JE  (Japanese Encephalitis vaccine) in children of
descending age from USA by M/s. Quintiles.

PBA/KP/SK

"Our ideal is not the spirituality that withdraws from life but the conquest of life by the power of the spirit." -  Aurobindo.

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