Gujarat's ‘green’ signal for GM maize trials

While hundreds of questions are being raised about the safety of genetically modified (GM) food because of lack of scientific evidence of its effects on the human body, the Gujarat government has given a no-objection certificate (NOC) for open-air field trials of GM maize.

This information has been obtained through the RTI Act by the activists of Coalition for a GM-Free India. Kavitha Kuruganti, member of the coalition said, “Gujarat has issued NOCs to GM maize trials of Monsanto and Syngenta in addition to GM cotton trials of Dow Agro Sciences and Bayer BioScience.”

Government papers show that there was no need analysis done for the trials which are a violation of Environment Protection Act (EPA) norms. The state agriculture minister, Dileep Sanghani, admitted that there is need for official permission from government bodies to carry out such trials. He has, however, expressed ignorance about the field trials of GM maize in the state.

Sanghani said the state government has not given direct permission to any company. “Our agricultural scientists are taking technical knowhow from the companies for testing and trials.” But as for GM maize trials, he said he would have to check.    “Apart from AP, Gujarat is the only state to have allowed any GM food crop trials after a change in regulatory norms in 2011 allowing state greater say. Recent RTI responses from the state government’s agriculture and environment departments indicate that EPA’s 1989 rules are not being adhered to in Gujarat,” said Kuruganti.