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Greenpeace India flays GEAC decision on Bt Brinjal
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Friday, 23 October, 2009, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Mamata Chanda, New Delhi
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 Greenpeace India, an international Non-Government Organisation, has demanded no approval of GE food crops be given as it is a threat to the health of the citizens and the environment.
Recently, the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) approved Bt Brinjal. Reacting on the issue Greenpeace India has said that it will open the floodgates to all the 56 crops including 40 other food crops, which are presently undergoing various stages of approval. This in the absence of a labelling law leaves consumers with no choice.
It is further believed that committee’s recommendations have been sent for a final government approval for commercial release. If approved it will be the first genetically modified food crop to be approved in India and also the first genetically modified vegetable to be approved for commercial cultivation anywhere in the world.
Bt Brinjal approval process has been mired in controversy due to the complete lack of transparency and vested interest of experts in the committee reviewing the study. It took a 30-month long legal battle to bring out the bio-safety studies submitted by Mahyco to GEAC for the approval of its Bt Brinjal. Later in May, a 16-member sub-committee was set up by the GEAC to look into the concerns raised. It was pointed out by many CSO’s including Greenpeace that there is a serious conflict of interest in the sub-committee, it is learnt.
There has been growing concern from consumers and in the last one month, around 13 major processed food companies in India have stated their positions to not use GE ingredients in their products. Over 41,000 consumers have so far written to companies demanding them to become GE free, Greenpeace informed.
“It is shocking to see that GEAC has mindlessly gone ahead and approved Bt Brinjal even when informed scientists and citizens of this country are raising serious concerns on the nature of the safety studies. GEAC by doing a charade with their regulatory gimmicks is putting the health and environment of our country in danger,” said Jai Krishna of Greenpeace India.
He said, “We believe that the decision on Bt Brinjal is a decision on food safety and food security of the country and hence should not be made by a beaurocratic body known to take sides with the industry. Now since the final decision is with the government, we hope that our government will stand by the people and not on the side of seed companies who have a vested interest.”
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