India: Supreme Court steps in to tighten GM crop test norms
05.oct.06
Times of India

NEW DELHI: Fresh field trials of genetically modified crops are on hold. The Supreme Court has directed the government that it should not give any fresh approvals to GM crop field trials until further orders.
GM crops is an issue that has cleaved the scientific community. Field trials of GM crops are governed by stringent regulations around the world, including most of Europe where GM food has not passed muster despite immense pressure from biotech giants.
In India, the regulatory structure for field trials is strict in theory, but in practice, scandalously lax. This is what the Supreme Court discovered on September 22 when it issued its order against fresh field trials.
Soon thereafter, agriculture minister Sharad Pawar — a votary of GM foods — also admitted that food safety and environment risks should be assessed on a "strict scientific basis" for GM crops.
GM crops have been mired in controversy for several years across the world despite claims of high yield and reduced dependence on pesticides.
Currently in India, many blame the farmer distress in cotton-growing areas on high-priced GM seeds that failed to deliver on their promise, leaving the farmer badly indebted.
Who allows field tests of GM crops in India? Until May 1, permission was being given by the review committee of genetic manipulation (RCGM) under the department of biotechnology, the very same department that promotes GM technology.
The obvious conflict of interest was highlighted in a PIL filed by activist Aruna Rodrigues.
The apex court went into the issue and discovered that under the 1989 rules framed under the Environment Protection Act, permission for field trials was actually meant to be granted by the genetic engineering approval committee (GEAC) under the environment ministry.
Intervening for the first time on May 1, the Supreme Court ordered that only GEAC could clear field trials. But in the event, GEAC turned out to be a mere rubber stamp.
In its four meetings since the May 1 order, GEAC cleared as many as 142 proposals of multi-locational field trials.
The range of crops under test includes vegetables and food grains: brinjal, maize, mustard, sugar cane, sorghum, rice, tomato, potato, banana, papaya, cauliflower, oilseeds, castor, soyabean, chick-pea and medicinal plants.
Rodrigues went to the court again, this time to draw attention to GEAC's failure to exercise due diligence while clearing proposals for field trials.

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