India’s biotechnology regulator Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) on Wednesday gave thumbs up Bt brinjal in the backdrop of the controversy surrounding GM crops.
GEAC assessed the recommendations of a special committee that had accumulated data for over nine years to study the bio-safety of Bt brinjal.
Bt brinjal is the first modified genetically modified vegetable that has been introduced to Indians.
The experts, however, have raised concern over the environmental implications due to GM crops.
GM crops are those in which genetic material (DNA) is altered for some perceived advantage either to the producer or the consumer.
Bt cotton was the first transgenic crop to be introduced in the country in 2002. Since then there has been a lot of controversy surrounding it with experts debating on its performance and impact on the environment and health of cattle.
India, as a party to the Convention on Biodiversity and having ratified the Cartagena Protocol (CP), is committed to the safe handling of living modified organisms (LMOs) or genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
The Protocol provides a broad framework on biosafety especially focusing on trans-boundary movements of GMOs and also covers seeds that are meant for intentional release into the environment, as well as those GMOs that are intended for food, feed or used in food processing.