NEW DELHI: Over 50 farmers’ associations from across the country have demanded that the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests prevent its Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) from proceeding with a February 5 meet to allow commercialisation of genetically modified mustard.
All major Indian farmer unions, in a joint statement, slammed the Ministry for allowing the regulatory body for transgenics to decide on the fate of GM mustard. They demanded that the Minister immediately cancel the ‘secret meeting’ of the regulator.
The GEAC is expected to consider commercialisation of GM Mustard developed by Delhi University’s Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants headed by Deepak Pental. “All major mustard growing states in India, including BJP-ruled states, heeding to citizens’ voices and scientific advice, have come out against GM mustard. They have also expressed concern about the secretive processes adopted by the regulators and for not putting out biosafety data in the public domain,” it said.