NEW DELHI: Opposing the central biotech regulator’s decision to allow environmental release of genetically modified (GM) mustard for seed production and testing, two RSS-affiliates Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) and Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) on Friday demanded withdrawal of the decision with the former even writing to environment minister Bhupender Yadav seeking his intervention to ensure that no transgenic variety of mustard seed is allowed to be planted “now or ever” due to risks involved in its use.
Both these outfits also questioned safety protocol being followed by the regulator, Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), before taking the decision, and asked why the recommendation for environmental release was given even before the research has been done in the country about impact of transgenic mustard on bees and pollination. The BKS even flagged how the regulator’s move was even against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of revival of self-sustainable agriculture.
“This is to bring to your notice that nothing has changed from May 2017 when the GEAC’s green signal for this unsafe GM mustard had to be stopped by the government, keeping in mind various concerns… Not a single additional test has been done, nor a single question has been answered scientifically about the safety or efficacy or need of this GM mustard,” said Ashwani Mahajan, national co-convenor, SJM, in his letter to Yadav.
He alleged that the regulator, instead of taking up any such review, joined hands with GM crop developers and compromised the regulatory regime quite seriously.
Referring to the latest decision, he said it was “irresponsible” for the regulatory body to recommend environmental release, and then ask for testing to be done post-environmental release, knowing fully well that GM technology is a living technology, irreversible and uncontrollable once released into the environment.
Both these outfits also questioned safety protocol being followed by the regulator, Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), before taking the decision, and asked why the recommendation for environmental release was given even before the research has been done in the country about impact of transgenic mustard on bees and pollination. The BKS even flagged how the regulator’s move was even against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of revival of self-sustainable agriculture.
“This is to bring to your notice that nothing has changed from May 2017 when the GEAC’s green signal for this unsafe GM mustard had to be stopped by the government, keeping in mind various concerns… Not a single additional test has been done, nor a single question has been answered scientifically about the safety or efficacy or need of this GM mustard,” said Ashwani Mahajan, national co-convenor, SJM, in his letter to Yadav.
He alleged that the regulator, instead of taking up any such review, joined hands with GM crop developers and compromised the regulatory regime quite seriously.
Referring to the latest decision, he said it was “irresponsible” for the regulatory body to recommend environmental release, and then ask for testing to be done post-environmental release, knowing fully well that GM technology is a living technology, irreversible and uncontrollable once released into the environment.
