GMCROP-JD(U) 2LAST

The party asked Dave to ensure GEAC’s current processes The party asked Dave to ensure GEAC’s current processesare not "farcical" and also sought time with the Minster todiscuss the issue in detail. "No study has been done to assess whether there is a needfor the product and whether it’s useful for farmers or theconsumers. The trait as engineered is to create ease ofhybridisation thereby is beneficial only for seed producers,"it said. Anti-GM activists had yesterday accused the GEAC ofundertaking a "meaningless" process of getting public feedbackand demanded the full biosafety data be put out in the publicdomain immediately and at least 90 days time should be givenfor feedback. "The bar gene in the GM mustard confers herbicidetolerance (HT) trait on the crop. In India various high-powered committees have strongly recommended against theuse of herbicide tolerant traits. "This is due to the various serious problems associatedwith the extensive use of herbicides. Also it is a labourdisplacing technology," the party said, adding that manyleading mustard growing states have expressly prohibited eventhe field trials of this GM mustard. The party said that according to the Swaminathan TaskForce on Biotechnology (2004), the report of the ParliamentaryStanding Committee (2012) and the majority report of theTechnical Expert Committee (TEC) appointed by the SupremeCourt ( 2013), no genetic modification should be attempted forcrops in their centres of origin and diversity. "Therefore, this GM mustard should under no circumstancesbe approved for commercial release. In fact even open airfield trials of this crop are risky as it could contaminateindigenous mustard varieties. World over the experience withcontamination has been very bad," the party said. PTI TDS TIRDVTIR