NEWS FROM INDIA
1.SC to hear plea for moratorium on GM crop today
2.Study adverse effects of transgenic crops: Pawar
3.Bt cotton scare grips farmers, 120 goats perish
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1.SC to hear plea for moratorium on GM crop today
Tannu Sharma
Indian Express, August 12 2008
http://www.indianexpress.com:80/story/347682.html

NEW DELHI: An application seeking a complete moratorium on release of any genetically-modified (GM) crops in the environment till an independent testing facility is set up in India, will be listed for hearing in the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

A "review of six years of Bt cotton experience" is sought on the opinion of Dr P M Bhargava, the noted microbiological expert. He says "it is necessary that review must take place during a full moratorium on all GM crops, including Bt cotton" - a view that will be placed before a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan.

Highlighting several lacunas in the present bio-testing system, Aruna Rodrigues, who had earlier filed a PIL, has now moved an application urging the court to issue directions to the Union Government for imposing a ban on import of any GM product.

She has pointed to the extensive communication between Dr P M Bhargava, an international expert in molecular biology, and Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC). GEAC is the sole authority to approve the release of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) under the 1989 Rules.

Following the apex court directions on February 13, 2008, Dr Bhargava, the founder director of Centre for Cell and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, and Dr Swaminathan of Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai, were invited to meetings "whenever any application for seeking approval for release of GMO is taken up".

The applicant claims what transpired in the meetings, as also known through the communication between the GEAC and Dr Bhargava, is "a very alarming picture of the manner in which clearances have been given for environmental release of GMOs".

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, counsel for Rodrigues, says a vast majority of bio-safety tests, which are required before such crops are allowed for safe release into the environment, are not being conducted. Whatever tests are being done are being carried out by the applicant company, "which has a clear commercial interest".

The application has also underlined the need for having an independent testing laboratory with adequate technical capacity.
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2.Study adverse effects of transgenic crops: Pawar
Gargi Parsai
The Hindu, August 11 2008
http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/11/stories/2008081155881200.htm

NEW DELHI: The Centre envisages a major role for the private sector for enhancing the production of quality seeds for which biotechnology will be the mainstay. At the same time, Agriculture and Food Minister Sharad Pawar feels the concerns about possible adverse effects of genetically modified crops should be seriously looked into.

According to the Minister, the National Seeds Policy of 2002 recognises biotechnology as a key factor in the coming decades to meet the increasing demand for food with enhancement of both its quantity and quality.

“With limited natural resources available to improve agricultural production, genetically engineered crops developed by applying bio-technological tools are being looked upon as a promising alternative which can benefit farmers, manufacturers, as well as consumers,” he told participants of a two-day national seminar on “Seed and Crop Technologies for Doubling Agricultural Production” organised by the National Seeds Association of India (NSAI) here on Saturday.

Calling upon the seed industry to pay greater attention to developing quality seeds in cereals and legumes, he said each genetically engineered plant should be considered on its own merit. For economic sustainability, the transgenic variety of crops should be specific to different agro-climatic zones. “While doing so, the serious concerns that have often been expressed about the possible adverse effects of transgenic crops on human and animal health and environment should be seriously looked into." [shortened]
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3.Bt cotton scare grips farmers, 120 goats perish
Express News Service, August 6 2008
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEQ20080806092736&Page=Q&Title=Orissa&Topic=0

Orissa

BALANGIR: The scare of Bt cotton has come real and in a cruel way. Around 120 goats died after consuming Bt cotton leaves cultivated in Patnagarh sub-division on Sunday. Bt cotton is banned though its seeds are illegally available in the State.

Police have detained one Shankar Deep who had taken on lease the land for cultivation of Bt cotton and have registered an FIR.

Goats in two villages ”” Kuthurla and Nandupala ”” under Khaprakhol block didn’t return home in the evening after grazing on the nearby land.

Villagers say that the goats died after chewing Bt cotton leaves. The goats were found fainting in the area where they ate Bt cotton leaves. On postmortem, it was found that all the goats had Bt cotton leaves in their stomach.

Chief District Veterinary Officer (CDVO) Dr D.D. Panda said the goats were found to have been poisoned by organo phosphorous, a strong pesticide. In fact, two persons, who nursed the goats, have been admitted to hospital.

Goats were fainting and their condition suddenly worsened. There is a possibility that they were deliberately poisoned by sprinkling organo phosphorous on the grazing field in heavy amount. The chemical is used to protect cotton.

'There were leaves inside their stomach, but that may not be the only reason. The spleen of goats has been sent to Animal Disease Research Institute. We can conclude the reason after chemical analysis of spleen is done,' he said.

Last month, some voluntary organisations had campaigned in the area to convince farmers about the impact of Bt cotton. It is alleged that some unscrupulous agents have been pushing for the sale of Bt cotton seeds in that area despite ban.

Field trials of Bt cotton are being undertaken since 2002-03. Despite denial by the State Government, Living Farm, an NGO, has alleged that attempts were being made to introduce Bt cotton in the State with the false promise to farmers that it will result in increased yields.