In early November, the Supreme Court of India put a stay on a GEAC decision of October 18 that was used by the Ministry of Environment and Forests on October 25 to allow environmental release of GM mustard in five states.
The herbicide-tolerant mustard won’t be released, pending further consideration on November 10. Ms. Aruna Rodrigues filed the application, citing a report in 2012 by a technical expert committee (TEC) pointing to dangers of GM crops. The committee report claims GM crops are “unsustainable” and “unsuitable” for India; it recommends a “total ban” on the basis of the precautionary principle. Emergence of resistant weeks and the protection of crop diversity were also factors.
The TEC says these crops would “most likely exert a highly adverse impact over time on sustainable agriculture, rural livelihoods, and the environment. The evidence of harm is significant. Roundup is also a potent carcinogen; it causes mammary cancers in rats which are equivalent to breast cancers in humans.”
In steering a National Agricultural Biotechnology Policy, Chairman Professor Swaminathan prioritized safety of environment, well-being of farm families, the ecological and economic sustainability of farming systems, health and nutrition security of consumers, and safeguarding home and external trade and biosecurity.
Source: GM Watch
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Organic & Non-GMO Insights December 2022
