Panel favours ‘limited’ release of Bt Brinjal

NEW DELHI: The public debate over the introduction of Bt Brinjal appears to be set for another round. Nearly eight months after the government put the commercialisation of Bt Brinjal on indefinite hold, a report by a panel comprising the country’s six premier science academies has recommended an immediate “limited” release of Bt Brinjal. The inter academy report on GM food crops was prepared by the science academies at the request of environment minister Jairam Ramesh.

The government took the decision to put an indefinite hold on the release of genetically-modified brinjal after angry protests from farmers, civil society, and other organisations. The inter academy report finds that the Bt Brinjal is “safe for human consumption”. It has suggested a limited release.

“It is appropriate now to release Bt brinjal for cultivation in specific farmers’ fields in identified states.” Such a move the report suggested would “restore confidence” and “allay fears” that the moratorium on Bt Brinjal would “influence” research in transgenic crops. Alongside, the panel has called for spreading awareness on Bt Brinjal and transgenics in general.

The interacademy report on GM crops states that the safety of Bt brinjal for human consumption had been established “adequately and beyond reasonable doubt”. Further, that its environmental effects are “negligible”. However, in order to address public concerns, “as well as to doubly ensure biosafety”, the panel’s report suggests that a group of experts or/and institutions should be constituted for conducting post market survelliance study of short, medium and long term health hazards.

Even as it called for a limited release, the report suggests that performance in the field, in all its aspects, be monitored by an independent committee, “which should not include the suppliers or their representatives.”
The panel is of the view that the current regulatory mechanism for transgenic crops was strong enough and that the introduction of Bt brinjal need not be held back till a new regulatory framework was put in place.

“The limited release of Bt brinjal need not wait for the establishment of the BRAI (proposed Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India),” it said. The panel has said that India should view GM crops as an important component of the food security strategy, but they are not a panacea.

Following the government’s decision in February to put an indefinite moratorium on the commercialisation of Bt Brinjal, Mr Ramesh requested a detailed review on all aspects of biotechnology in food crops. The study was undertaken by the six science academies—Indian National Science Academy, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Indian Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Sciences, Indian National Academy of Engineering, National academy of Medical Sciences.