The scientific and policy debate on the potential benefits and risks of biotechnologies remains polarized. As more genetically modified crops, insects, and fish are developed, the 2000 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity provides a forum to monitor developments and address risk assessment and risk management …
The Government will not allow commercial cultivation of Bt Brinjal till independent studies establish that the genetically modified food crop (GM crop) does not impact human health, the Lok Sabha was today informed. The Environment Minister, Jayanthi Natarajan said “no” in her reply to a written question on whether the …
A delegation from the Coalition for a GM free India and Greenpeace India, delivered petitions from over 4 lakh Indians demanding the withdrawal of Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill. The petitions were delivered to Dr T Subbarami Reddy, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & …
: Dismissing concerns expressed by activists and civil society against use of genetically modified (GM) crops in the country, the Union agriculture ministry on Tuesday said that such objections have been "very speculative" and "without any reasonable assessment". The ministry, known for its pro-GM crops stand, articulated its point in …
On the eve of the 67 th Independence day, Safe Food Alliance, Tamil Nadu which is one of the constituents of the Coalition for a GM-free India and ASHA (Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture) urged the TN Chief Minister Dr. J.Jayalalithaa to hoist a national flag made of non-Bt …
Farmers body CIFA today opposed the recommendations of the Supreme Court-appointed committee to ban field trials of biotech crops saying such a move would be "anti-national" and against the interest of growers. The five-member technical expert committee appointed by the Supreme Court has recommended banning research field trials of all …
Campaigners against genetically modified (GM) crops yesterday filed a writ petition with the High Court against a government move to release Bt brinjal, a GM crop, for the first time in the country. The court is likely to hear the writ today, lawyers concerned said. The writ was filed by …
A writ petition has been filed with High Court (HC) seeking its directive to restrain the government from giving approval to release four varieties of BT-brinjal, a genetically modified (GMO) variety, at the farmers' level. A national green group sought the HC directive alleging that the GMO BT-brinjal could affect …
New Delhi : It seems the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) had made up its mind on withholding all field trials of genetically modified crops even before the court-appointed Technical Experts Committee (TEC) last week recommended an indefinite moratorium. The six-member panel has asked to wait till a bio-safety …
Campaigners against genetically modified crops have served a legal notice to government asking it to refrain from commercial release of Bt brinjal, a GM crop, in Bangladesh. On behalf of Farida Akhter, an organizer of Naya Krishi Andolon, and other anti-GM activists, a lawyer served the notice to Secretary of …
The final report of the Technical Expert Committee (TEC) set up by the Supreme Court in a Public Interest Litigation on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) has said that it will not be “advisable” to conduct more field trials till gaps in the regulatory system are addressed. The report was much …
Environment and agriculture activists, farmers Thursday at a human chain protested the government's move to introduce genetically modified (GMO) Bt-brinjal at farmers' level. They said although courts of the two countries like India and the Philippines imposed ban on commercialisation of GMO but Bangladeshi research organisation Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute …
Three Italian ministries have signed a decree banning the cultivation of a type of genetically modified maize, citing environmental concerns, the agriculture ministry said on Friday. The decree, which still needs to be published in the official gazette to become binding, targets Monsanto's MON810 maize, one of two genetically modified …
The Coalition for GM Free India along various farmer unions and political parties launched a nation-wide campaign demanding that the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill, 2013 be withdrawn immediately. The campaign was launched at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and attended by farmers, civil society activists and political leaders …
We will oppose the Bill in Parliament, says Yechury Cutting across party lines, several political leaders participated on Tuesday in a joint campaign with civil society groups and farmers’ organisations against Genetically Modified crops and the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill at Jantar Mantar here. Participating in the …
The controversial Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) bill which was introduced in the Lok Sabha in April has been released for public consultation on June 11. Once tabled in Parliament, BRAI will be a regulatory authority for all Genetically Modified Organisms including controversial genetically modified (GM) crops in the …
American wheat farmers and a food safety advocacy group filed a lawsuit Thursday against biotech seed developer Monsanto Co, accusing the company of failing to protect the U.S. wheat market from contamination by its unauthorized wheat. The petition, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, …
Anti-GM lobby alleged that Paroda has a clear case of conflict of interest because he was a part of organisations which don't only have representatives of seed companies Ahead of the presentation of the report of the high-powered Technical Expert Committee (TEC) on genetically modified (GM) crops to the Supreme …
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture has invited public comments on Agriculture Biosecurity Bill, 2013 that provides for the establishment of an integrated national biosecurity system, covering plant, animal, marine and farm microorganisms to combat threats of bioterrorism from pests and weeds. An agriculture biosecurity authority is proposed to be …
The Department of Agriculture said Friday it will extend its scrutiny of controversial proposed biotech crops developed by Dow AgroSciences, a unit of Dow Chemical, and Monsanto Co. after receiving an onslaught of opposition to the companies' plans. The news frustrated Dow officials who had hoped to have secured regulatory …
The CPI leader, in his letter to Jaipal, cites “conflict of interest” Close on the heels of 17 MPs urging Science and Technology Minister Jaipal Reddy to withdraw from the Lok Sabha the recently introduced Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill, CPI leader D. Raja has also expressed “serious …
