Lok Sabha Question No. 306 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-01
Subject: GM Crops
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: DHARAM VIRA GANDHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 306

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2015

## GM Crops

## 306.    SHRI DHARAM VIRA:

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

- (a) whether the Government is planning to permit Genetically Modified Mustard crop to be cultivated across the country;
- (b) if so, the details in this regard and the reasons therefore along with the details of the data and information related to its safety tests; and
- (c) the measures being taken by the Government to implement the recommendations of the Supreme Court appointed Technical Committee and the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture on any open air release of Genetically Modified Organisms including field trials and cultivation?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) & (b):   The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) notified under Rules, 1989 is the  apex  body  to  accord  approval  for  large  scale  use  and  commercial  release  of  genetically modified  organisms.  GEAC  had  approved  the  application  from  Centre  for  the  Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants, University of Delhi (CGMCP) for permission to conduct BRL-II trials of transgenic mustard hybrid (DMH-11) containing bar, barnase and barstar genes in three places  i.e.  Ludhiana,  Bhatinda  and  Delhi.  The  CGMCP  has  submitted  the  application  to  the GEAC for consideration for commercial release of transgenic mustard. Government of India has a  policy  of  taking  a  view  on  GM  crop  only  after  full  scientific  valuation  of  its  biosafety  and impact on the environment and on the consumers. Introduction of any new GM crop is preceded by a careful analysis of risks and evaluation of long term benefits for which extensive rules and guidelines framed by the Government for evaluating environmental and health safety impacts of genetically modified organisms.

(c) The Technical Expert Committee (TEC) appointed by Supreme Court has submitted two reports;  one  report  having  the  concurrence  of  the  5  Member  TEC  and  the  second  report submitted  by  the  6 th Member.    Both  the  reports  have  highlighted  certain  regulatory  gaps  and suggestions  for  improving  the  Biosafety  Regulation  in  India.    Five  members  of  TEC  have recommended  that  the  GM  crop  field  trials  be  put  on  hold  till  all  recommendations  are implemented. Dr. Paroda, the 6 th member recommended that the existing safety norms prescribed by the GEAC for conduct of field trials are adequate.  The Union of India (UoI) has not accepted the recommendations for imposing moratorium on GM field trials on the grounds that include (i) the current regulations and Protocols followed in biosafety assessment are as per international best practices, (ii) field trials are an integral part of biosafety assessment and trials are necessary to generate biosafety data, (iii) any ban on GM crop field trials would stop all research activities in the country which may have a long term implications on food security issues. The UoI had filed  its  objection  in  the  Supreme  Court  through  a  joint  Common  Affidavit  on  1.4.2014.    The UOI is of the view that research in GM and confined field trials for generating biosafety data with all due precautions should be allowed to continue in the national interest. As of date, the Supreme Court has not imposed any ban on GM crop field trials.

The recommendations made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture on Cultivation  of  Genetically  Modified  Food  Crops  -  Prospects  and  Effects  (37 th report)  for stopping  of  all  field  trials  of  GM  crops  were  not  agreed  to  and  it  was  informed  that  it  is  not advisable to stop the field trials of transgenic crops as this would deny access of Indian farmers to  such  technology and since the biosafety regulatory mechanism for GM crops in India is of global standards.

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