GM Crops

Call for freeze on GM crops

The Technical Expert Committee (TEC) set up by the Supreme Court to review GM safety has recommended a moratorium on field trials for the chemical Bt in food crops

The much awaited report of the Technical Expert Committee (TEC) set up by the Supreme Court to go into the fate of genetically modified (GM) crops has been submitted.

The interim report submitted in October last year had suggested a ban on open field trials of GM crops for ten years.

The final report has recommended "a moratorium on field trials for Bt in food crops intended for commercialisation (not research) until there is more definitive information from sufficient number of studies as to the long term safety of Bt in food crops."

This means the moratorium is now indefinite. The panel is also against release of genetic modification of crops like brinjal for which India is the centre of origin or diversity.

Most importantly, based on a study of health and safety dossiers of GM crops submitted by the various developers, the panel has exposed holes in the regulatory process.

Toxicity studies should be chronic and trans-generational because food is consumed lifelong, and not for a limited period as is being done now, it says. It is now up to the SC to give directives to the government base.