NEW DELHI: A technical subcommittee of the Union Environment Ministry has given a go ahead for the commercial use of GM mustard even as the government clarified that no final decision was taken. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is likely to recommend its commercial release from next month.
The technical subcommittee, constituted to look into bio-safety of the crop, in its meeting held on August 11 has found the GM mustard safe. sources said approval for GM mustard is in final stages and final nod will come from Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave.
The Environment Ministry said in a statement: “No final decision has been taken on the issue. The GEAC, in a meeting held on August 11, 2016, has examined the ‘safety document’ prepared by its sub-committee. The Safety Document will be put up on the website of GEAC inviting comments from the public.”
Civil society groups have been opposing the release of transgenic mustard hybrid DMH-11 developed by Delhi University former Vice Chancellor Deepak Pental-led Centre for Genetic Manipulation and Crop Plants.