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Centre on GM mustard crop

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July 18, 2017

Why in news?

Indian government don’t have any policy decision on the commercial release of Genetically Modified (GM) mustard crop.

Why GM mustard is opposed?

  • Hybrids are normally obtained by crossing two genetically diverse plants from the same species, but there is no natural hybridisation system in mustard.
  • The new technology for GM mustard has used a “Barnase” gene isolated from a soil bacterium.
  • The resultant hybrid mustard plant will be high-yielding.
  • This incorporation of alien genes led to the opposition.
  • This same technology has been used in GM cotton.
  • The opponents of GM mustard point out that cotton is not a food crop, while mustard is India’s largest edible oil-yielding crop.

What is the status of its commercial release?

  • The apex court had on October 17 last year gave the stay on the commercial release of GM mustard crop until further orders.
  • The court had asked the Centre to seek public opinion on such seeds before releasing it for cultivation purposes, even as government approval is awaited.
  • Recently, the Union government informed the Supreme Court that it has no policy decisions on GM mustard.

Why SC demands for a well-informed view on GM mustard? 

  • Mustard is one of India’s most important winter crops, which is sown between mid-October and late-November.
  • The government sowing the seeds in various fields and the bio-safety dossier has to be put on the website, which has not been done yet.
  • The field trials were being carried out by the government without conducting the relevant tests.
  • The contamination of germ plasm will happen with mustard HT (Herbicide Tolerant) DMH 11, it will be irremediable and irreversible making our food toxic at the molecular level without recourse.
  • A Technical Expert Committee (TEC) report has pointed out that the entire regulatory system on GM mustard is a messes and a 10-year suspension should be given.

Quick fact

Genetic engineering appraisal committee (GEAC)

  • It is established under Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
  • It is the apex body for approval of activities involving large scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recom­binants.
  • It is also responsible for ap­proval of proposals relating to release of genetically engineered organisms and products including experimen­tal field trials.

Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP)

  • It is a R&D setup of Delhi University.
  • It takes important researches on bio technology.
  • This centre developed many indigenous genetically modified seeds.

 

Source: Business Line

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