Lok Sabha Question No. 898 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-01
Subject: GM Seeds
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shrirang Appa Barne, K. MARAGATHAM, KAVITHA KALVAKUNTLA, M. B. RAJESH, CHARANJEET SINGH RORI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 898

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.03.2016

## GM Seeds

## 898. SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRIMATI K. MARAGATHAM:

SHRIMATI KAVITHA KALVAKUNTLA:

SHRI M.B. RAJESH:

SHRI CHARANJEET SINGH RORI:

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

- (a) the  present  status  regarding  cultivation  and  commercial  release  of  Genetically Modified (GM) crops/seeds including GM mustard seeds in the country;
- (b) whether  the  Genetic  Engineering  Appraisal  Committee  (GEAC)  has    scientifically examined  all  aspects  regarding    release  of  GM  seeds  and  its  likely  impact  on  the environment, human beings and animals including toxicity studies, odds of gene flow into the environment, etc.;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  and  findings  thereof  along  with  the  reaction  of  the  Government thereto;
- (d) whether  farmers'  groups  and  environmental  activists  have  been  opposing  the  field trials and commercial release of GM crops including GM mustard in the country; and
- (e) if  so,  the  reaction  of  the  Government  thereto  along  with  the  details  of  regulatory mechanisms and checks to enforce bio-safety for such crops/produce?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI   PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) As of date, Bt cotton expressing five events is the only GM crop under commercial cultivation.    The  GEAC  has  recently  received  the  application  for  environmental  release  of transgenic  mustard  hybrid  DMH-  developed  using  barnase,  barstar  and  bar  genes  by  the Centre  for  Genetic  Manipulation  of  Crop  Plants (CGMCP),  University  of  Delhi  (South Campus).

(b)&(c) The biosafety dossier submitted by the applicant includes detailed studies to assess  the  impact  on  environment  and  human  health  in  accordance  with  the  protocols prescribed  by  the  Review  Committee  on  Genetic  Manipulation  and  Genetic  Engineering Appraisal  Committee.    These  include  expression  studies,  toxicity  assessment,  sub-chronic toxicity  assessment,  allergencity,  compositional  analysis  and  nutritional  value,  weediness potential,  crossibility,  pollen  flow/  gene  flow  studies,  impact  of  soil  organisms  etc.  The GEAC in its meeting held on 5.2.2016 has directed the applicant to revise the BIOSAFETY

DOSSIER as per the comments/suggestions of the Sub-committee constituted by the GEAC and inputs received from the Department of Biotechnology.

(d)&( e) The  GEAC  has  received  representations  from  some  NGOs  and  farmers associations expressing concerns regarding the safety of transgenic mustard.  The GEAC is following a case by case assessment of GM crops which takes into account concerns related to safety, efficacy, stability and agronomic performance of the GM seeds.

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