Lok Sabha Question No. 1306 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-06
Subject: Approval of GM Cultivation
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Gaurav Gogoi, Dulal Chandra Goswami

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTIONNO. 1306

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.12.2021

## Approval of GM Cultivation

## 1306.  SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

## SHRI DULAL CHAND GOSWAMI:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government intends to approve commercial cultivation of any genetically modified (GM) rice varieties in the country and if so, the details of the varieties of GM rice under field trial, including institution and the States conducting trial in the country at present;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  GM  crop  varieties  undergoing  field  trial  are contaminating organic and non-GM crops and if so, the steps taken to contain it, if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the steps taken to ensure monitoring and implementation of safety protocols to prevent contamination by GM crops;
- (d) the  details  of  the  steps  taken  to  prevent  illegal  commercial  cultivation  of  GM  crops such as brinjal;
- (e) whether any monitoring system has been set up by the Government to restrict import of banned genetically modified seeds in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether hundreds of ton of restricted genetically modified seeds are being imported for agriculture in the country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) to (e) Till date, the Government  of  India has approved only GM  cotton  for commercial cultivation in India and no instances of contaminating organic and non-GM crops were reported. The following guidelines are in place for ensuring monitoring and implementation of safety protocols are as below:
- i. Regulations & Guidelines for Recombinant DNA  Research and Biocontainment, 2017
- ii. Guidelines  for  the  Environmental  Risk  Assessment  of  Genetically Engineered Plants, 2016
- iii. Guidelines  for  the  conduct  of  Confined  Field  Trials  of  Regulated, Genetically Engineered (GE) Plants, 2008
- iv. Guidelines  for  the  monitoring  of  Confined  Field  Trials  of  Regulated,
- Genetically Engineered (GE) Plants, 2008
- v. Standard  Operating  Procedures  (SOPs)  for  Confined  Field  Trials  of Regulated, Genetically Engineered (GE) Plants, 2008
- vi. Confined Field Trials of Genetically Engineered (GE) Plants, 2015

All States/Union Territories (UTs)  have  been  directed to constitute and strengthen State/UT Biotechnology Coordination Committees and District Level Committees  for  monitoring  instances  of  illegal  cultivation  of  GM  crops including brinjal for taking appropriate action under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Further, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has issued advisories to States to take appropriate necessary action to curb and control the spread  of  unapproved  GM  crops.  Also  State  Governments  have  given  the directions to all District Administration to take necessary legal steps to curb the production  and  selling  of  illegal  GM  crops  for  farming.  In  addition,  the  Seed Inspector notified under Section, 13 of the Seeds Act, 1966 and under Clause 12 of  the  Seeds  (Control)  Order,  1983  are  empowered  under  the  Environment Protection Act, 1986 to draw the seed samples of GM seeds and to test in the notified seed testing laboratories in case of sale of prohibited GM seeds.

- (f) As  per  the  information  received  from  Directorate  General  of  Foreign  Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, no permission for import of unapproved genetically modified (GM) seeds on bulk scale were allowed in India so far.

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