INDIA BUSINESS WORLD - APRIL - MAY 2007
The Month that was ...

SC GIVES CONDITIONAL NOD TO APPROVED FIELD TRIALS OF GM CROPS

IN A boost to supporters of genetically modified crops, the Supreme Court allowed the Centre to conduct approved field trials of genetically modified seeds in the country subject to certain restrictions.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan permitted field trials of GM crops, which were earlier approved by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) in April and May 2006, provided it fulfilled certain conditions.

The government should increase the isolation distance up to 200 metres between the GM planted fields and the other fields and a protocol for testing for contamination up to 0.01% for neighbouring fields was established, the apex court said. It also said a designated scientist should be made responsible for ensuring that all the conditions were complied with during the field trials of GM seeds. The court allowed the commercial release of four approved BT cotton varieties, but it said no new species should be introduced.

The bench said GEAC, the GM regulatory authority under the Union ministry of environment and forests, should submit a detailed data, if any, about the effects of GM crops, i.e. the toxicity and allergic reactions before the court.