SC allows field trials of GM crops

ECONOMY BUREAU

Posted online: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 0000 hours IST

NEW DELHI, MAY 8: The Supreme Court on Tuesday permitted field trials of genetically modified (GM) crops approved by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) in 2006, but with riders. A special bench consisting of Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan, Justice DK Jain and Justice Tarun Chatterjee said the GM crop fields should be at least 200 metres away from fields with normal crops. One lead scientist should be made responsible for the trials. The scientist, the bench said, should ensure that non-GM crop fields were not contaminated by pollen flow from GM crops. The GEAC should lay down a protocol for ensuring 0.01% contamination by GM crops, it added. The court was hearing a writ petition filed by Aruna Rodrigues, PV Satheesh and others, calling for a moratorium on GM crops. Their advocate Prashant Bhushan pleaded against allowing field trials owing to health and environmental hazards. The government had filed an application, urging either vacation of the ban order or its modification. The Riders • GM crop fields should be at least 200 metres away from normal crops fields • A scientist should ensure non-GM crop fields weren’t contaminated by GM crops The apex court order came as a relief to the biotech industry, which had sought lifting of the ban on fresh approvals for GM crop field trials imposed by the court on September 22, 2006. In another reprieve to the industry, the court allowed commercial cultivation of Bt cotton based on four approved events – Cry 1 Ac MON 531 sourced from Monsanto, Cry 1 Ac + Cry 2 Ab MON 15985 sourced from Monsanto, Event I sourced from IIT Kharaghpur and GFM event sourced from China.