No decision taken at experts meet on Bt Brinjal

No decision was taken at the first meeting of experts that deliberated on issues relating to the moratorium on the commercial release of Genetically Modified Bt Brinjal.The experts were invited by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) for their views on the controversial issue.Noted agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan, however, recused himself from the meeting.He told that being a member of a Parliamentary Committee that was looking into the issue of Genetically Engineered Crops and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), he would not participate in any such deliberations. 

Moratorium or not?

While there is no indication from the government that this was a move to lift the moratorium imposed by Union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh last February, civil society groups claimed it was a step in that direction particularly since some of the experts involved were seed-developers and were a part of the GEAC that cleared the Bt Brinjal seed. The developer, Mahyco, had sought permission of the GEAC for commercialisation of their Bt Brinjal seed last year.

While imposing a moratorium on commercialisation of Bt Brinjal, Mr. Ramesh had said that the moratorium “will last till such time that independent studies establish, to the satisfaction of both public and professionals, the safety of the product from the point of view of its long- term impact on human health and environment, including the rich genetic wealth of brinjal in our country.” 

He had also referred to the existence of ecologically friendly and successful alternatives such as Non Pesticide Management for solving pest problems in crops.

NGOs can't stop us, says Ramesh

When asked, whether the meeting of experts meant the moratorium was being lifted, Mr. Ramesh retorted: “NGOs cannot stop us from holding a discussion on the issue.” 

In the meeting, there was a view that there was no need for further testing of Bt Brinjal. Some members were also apparently in favour of “limited, partial, highly-regulated release of Bt brinjal” with testing, if any, taken up simultaneously. 

Courtesy : The Hindu