Panel asks Ministry of Environment not introduce the GM crop before examining its effect on human, animals and environment
In a blow to the Centre’s plans to begin commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) Mustard crop in the country, the parliamentary panel on environment, science and technology has recommended a thorough examination of the crop’s impact on environment and the health of humans and animals. Noting absence of credible studies on the crop’s human and animal impacts, the panel asked the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to not introduce the crop without evaluating its biosafety issues and long-term impacts in an independent and transparent process.
The panel said that the consultation should happen “with concerned government agencies, experts, environmentalists, civil society and other stakeholders so that the nation is very clear about all its probable impacts before taking a call in that matter.”
Earlier in May, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), the country’s apex regulator of genetically modified organisms and foods, recommended commercial cultivation of GM Mustard crop to MoEF&CC. The government is yet to give a final stamp of approval for cultivation. The GEAC recommended the crop’s commercialisation even as a matter on the issue was pending before the Supreme Court, the panel noted.
In its report on the GM Mustard crop and its impact on environment, the panel expressed serious reservations about four broad issues. They pertained to the existing mechanism to regulate GM crops and the crop’s impact on environment, humans and animals.
During its hearings, the Secretary, Department of Health, informed the panel that the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) had not conducted any study till date on the crop’s impact on humans. “Scientists in ICMR feel that doing this kind of a test on human beings right now does not seem to be practical as it is very difficult to feed one person GM alone to test its impact.”
The panel expressed surprise on the absence of scientific studies on the crop’s impact on human health. “The committee fails to understand as to how the Department of Health Research gave its approval for the commercialisation of GM crops in India even without having the matter studied thoroughly on its part...it is surprising that there has been no in house scientific study carried out till date to study impact of GM crops on human health,” the panel said.
The House panel’s report on GM Mustard comes three months after its chairperson Renuka Chowdhury, Congress MP in Rajya Sabha, wrote the Prime Minister seeking to defer the final call on commercial cultivation of GM Mustard till the panel completes its hearings.
CROP TESTS
- Panel asks Ministry of Environment not introduce the GM crop before examining its effect on human, animals and environment
- Scientists feel test on humans difficult as it is not practical to feed one person GM alone
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