Despite all the suffering and suicides it has already inflicted via GM crops, India's GM regulatory body - the GEAC - has just approved the commercial release of 36 more varieties of transgenic Bt cotton and it is also considering approving Br brinjals!

Details of all their decisions in their press release below.
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GEAC APPROVES PROPOSALS
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=18042

17:48 IST

The GEAC in the Ministry of Environment & Forests has approved the following proposals:

A. Import of GM Soybean oil.

...On an interim basis the GEAC approved the import of refined soybean oil subject to certification from the country of export that it has been derived from Roundup Ready Soybeans. In case of crude degummed soybean oil, in addition to the certification, regarding it having been derived from Round up Ready Soyabean, the importer is also required to submit the analytical report from either CFTRI/NIN/Shri Ram Laboratories on the composition of crude-degummed Soybean oil both pre and post processing stage before a final view is taken. The test results should also include the pre and post refining levels of glyphosate in the oil as well as in the residue. The GEAC clearance does not exempt the importers from the requirements under PFA.

B. Commercial Release of transgenic Crops:

The GEAC has approved commercial release of Bt Cotton hybrids in the North, Central and South zones as follows:

a. North Zone : 8 hybrids

b. Central Zone : 12 hybrids

c. South zone : 16 hybrids

In addition to Bt hybrids containing the Cry 1 Ac gene (MON 531 event), which was earlier approved by the GEAC and is in commercial cultivation since 2002. the GEAC approved hybrids with three new gene/event namely Bt hybrids expressing encoding fusion genes (cry 1Ab+Cry Ac) 'GFM developed by M/s Nath Seeds, Bt hybrids expressing cry 1Ac gene (Event-1) by M/s JK Seeds Ltd and Bt hybrids expressing stacked genes Cry1 Ac and Cry 2Ab (MON 15985 event)—BG-II by M/s Mahyco.

C. Large Scale Trial of bt Cotton

The GEAC has approved large scale trials of Bt Cotton hybrids in the North, Central and South zones as follows:

a. North Zone : 16 hybrids containing cry 1 Ac (Mon 531 event ) and 21 hybrids expressing new gene events.

b. Central Zone: 20 hybrids containing cry 1 Ac (Mon 531 event ) and 12 hybrids expressing new gene events.

c. South zone: 25 hybrids containing cry 1 Ac (Mon 531 event ) and 27 hybrids expressing new gene events.

D. Streamlining of the Regulatory Procedure for transgenic crops.

The MoEF has constituted a sub-Committee on Bt cotton and related issues under the Chairmanship of Dr C D Mayee, Chairman Agricultural Scientist Recruitment Board and Co-Chair GEAC with a view to rationalize the regulatory procedure and facilitate introduction of new technology to make available cheaper options to farmers.

E. Transgenic Bt Brinjal developed by M/s Mahyco—First GM Food crop

M/s Mayhco has produced transgenic brinjal plants with cry 1Ac gene from Bacillus thuringiensis tolerant to the fruit and shoot borer, one of the major pests which attack the brinjal crop throughout its life cycle. Their application for large scale trials and seed production of four Bt Brinjal hybrids namely MHB-4 Bt, MHB 9 Bt MHB 80 Bt and MHBJ-99 Bt containing cry 1 Ac gene during Kharif 2006 is under consideration of the GEAC. The biosafety data will be placed on MoEF website [email protected] under the sub heading GEAC Clearance shortly.

F. Recombinant Pharma

The GEAC has approved the import and conduct of Phase II clinical trials with Chimerivaxtm –JE (Japanese Encephalitis vaccine) in children of descending age from USA by M/s. Quintiles.

PBA/KP/SK

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