1.State government approval clause in GM crops' GEAC guidelines to be revoked
2.State nod for GM crop trial hits research
3.GM forum flays mandatory prior nod of states for GM trial
NOTE: With Jairam Ramesh having been removed as India's environment minister, it looks like India's regulators (the GEAC) are back to business as usual, i.e. doing industry's bidding. In this case, they are dismantling a clause giving States a right of veto over GM crop trials held in their territory.
The clause, which had been instigated under pressure from Ramesh, is being revoked after heavy lobbying (see items 2 and 3) by the industry pressure group ABLE-AG: the Association of Biotech Led Enterprises-Agriculture Group. Members of ABLE-AG include:
*BASF India Ltd.
*Bayer Biosciences
*Dow AgroSciences India
*MAHYCO [Monsanto's Indian partner]
*Monsanto Research Centre
*Syngenta India
EXTRACTS: ...Former union environment and forests minister Jairam Ramesh in March had asked the GEAC to immediately withdraw its permission to Monsanto for field trials of Bt maize in Bihar. Ramesh's move came after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar told him that he was opposed to field trials of Bt maize. Jairam had asked the GEAC to give state government at least one month to agree or disagree on field trials for GM crops, given the fact that agriculture is a State subject. "In fact, ideally, prior approval of the State concerned should be taken before allowing such trials," he had stated. (item 2)
"It's a detrimental clause...it will delay the process of adoption of GM technology in the country..." Ram Kaundinya, Chairman of ABLE-AG told reporters. (item 3)
...Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Orissa and Kerala [were identified] as among those against GM technology. (item 3)
–-
–-
1.State government approval clause in GM crops' GEAC guidelines to be revoked
Irum Khan
FnBNews.com, July 29 2011
http://www.fnbnews.com/article/detnews.asp?articleid=30294§ionid=1
Mumbai – Respite is likely to come to those looking to initiate trials in genetically-modified (GM) crops as an important clause requiring state approval for conducting GM trials is likely to be revoked.
This was confirmed by a source from the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), the apex body constituted in the ministry of environment and forests focussing on manufacture, use, import, export and storage of hazardous microorganisms / genetically-engineered organisms or cells, under the Environment Protection Act,1986. The source said that the decision to revoke the clause was a recent one.
Groups like ABLE-AG (Association of Biotech Led Enterprises-Agriculture Group) have been opposing this clause in the upcoming GEAC guidelines, which makes it mandatory to seek prior permission from the states for trial of GM crops.
According to the Group, it was a detrimental clause, which was likely to delay the process of adoption of the GM technology in the country to multiply yield of food grain crops.
Interestingly, Bihar and Karnataka had recently forced winding up trial of Bt maize by an international seed company on this ground.
Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa and Kerala were some of the states which opposed this new technology whereas, states like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Haryana were favourably inclined towards GM crops.
Overall, field trials of 10 GM crops are in the pipeline in different parts of the country, according to media reports.
–-
–-
2.State nod for GM crop trial hits research, says andip Das
Financial Express, July 28 2011
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/state-nod-for-gm-crop-trial-hits-research-says-biotech-body/823468/
New Delhi: With the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) making it mandatory for the agri bio-tech companies to get no-objection certificate (NOC) from the states prior to the launch of any trial of GM crops has been termed as 'regressive' by a consortium Association of Bio-tech Led Enterprises – Agriculture Group (ABLE-AG) consisting of 12 companies has also said that getting nod from the states has put back research in genetically modified (GM) crops by many years.
"There is no way we can conduct any field trial this kharif season and because of ambiguity on the part of the government on GM crops, the research has come to a standstill for the last 13 months," VR Kaundinya, Chairman, ABLE-AG said.
...Former union environment and forests minister Jairam Ramesh in March had asked the GEAC to immediately withdraw its permission to Monsanto for field trials of Bt maize in Bihar. Ramesh's move came after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar told him that he was opposed to field trials of Bt maize. Jairam had asked the GEAC to give state government at least one month to agree or disagree on field trials for GM crops, given the fact that agriculture is a State subject. "In fact, ideally, prior approval of the State concerned should be taken before allowing such trials," he had stated.
–-
–-
3.GM forum flays mandatory prior nod of states for GM trial
Press Trust of India, July 28 2011
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-28/science/29824216_1_field-trials-gm-crops-gm-technology
NEW DELHI: A broad-based forum representing Indian Biotechnology sector Wednesday contested new GEAC guideline making it mandatory to seek prior permission from states for trial of GM crop.
The forum said it was talking to states having "wrong" notions about the newer plant technology.
"It's a detrimental clause...it will delay the process of adoption of GM technology in the country to multiply yield of food grain crops," Ram Kaundinya, Chairman of ABLE-AG (Association of Biotech Led Enterprises-Agriculture Group) told reporters.
Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) is the apex body constituted in the Ministry of Environment and Forests focusing on Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells 1989', under the Environment Protection Act,1986.
Bihar and Karnataka had recently forced winding up trial of Bt maize by an international seed company on this ground.
"Because of this the country could not take advantage of this advanced plant technology in the current kharif season," Kaundinya accompanied by M Vinod Kumar, Manager, Regulatory Affairs, India, added.
The ABLE-AG said they are talking to states opposed to GM crop technology mainly on political grounds.
He identified Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Orissa and Kerala as among those against GM technology.