CCI to probe three more new complaints against Monsanto

NEW DELHI: The Competition Commission of India ( CCI) has received three more complaints against Mahyco Monsanto Biotech (MMB) and its US based co-parent Monsanto Inc for alleged abuse of its dominant position in the Bt cotton business.

The fresh complaints have been filed by Kaveri Seeds, Ankur Seeds and Ajeet Seeds. The competition watchdog has clubbed the new complaints with the ongoing investigation against the company that was initiated in February on the complaint of the agriculture ministry.

MMB is a 50:50 joint venture between Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (MAHYO) and Monsanto Holdings. MMB has sub-licensed the Bt cotton technology to 28 Indian seed companies.

The technology, which is used in more than 99% of the area under Bt cotton cultivation in India, cannot be sold directly to farmers. It needs to be added to the hybrid by seed makers to produce Bt cotton seeds, which have an inbuilt resistance mechanism to deal with harmful pests.