1.Andhra Pradesh government seeks say in field trials
2.Make research on modified seeds public
3.Andhra Pradesh government stops Monsanto selling Bollgard-II cotton seed
EXTRACT: The farmer who gave the land on lease [for the trial of the GM crop] had consumed it and even sold some in the market even though Bt bhindi has not been cleared for human consumption.
"I sold some in the Guntur market but I didn't get much for it. We ate some but did not find it tasty, so stopped eating it," said Koteswara Rao, farmer.
The state government has also found itself in an embarrassing position when certain commercially approved [Monsanto] Bt cotton varieties failed and the farmers had to be paid compensation of upto Rs 3 crore. (item 1)
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1.AP govt seeks say in field trials
NDTV, November 9 2006
http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?slug=AP+govt+seeks+say+in+field+trials&id=96051&category=National
(Hyderabad): After its mixed experience with Bt cotton and field trials of genetically engineered food crops, the Andhra Pradesh government wants a say in what new crop is allowed and what is not.
It is also seeking representation in the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC).
"We should be kept informed. After all it is the primary duty of the GEAC, they cannot take all decisions on their own. We can ask our own agriculture officers and scientists to monitor and find out how it is working,'' said Raghuveera Reddy, Agriculture Minister, AP.
Human consumption
The state government has often found itself kept in the dark about field trials in the state.
NDTV brought to the government's notice biosafety violations in Bt bhindi, which was cultivated in the open as part of field trials in Guntur.
The farmer who gave the land on lease had consumed it and even sold some in the market even though Bt bhindi has not been cleared for human consumption.
"I sold some in the Guntur market but I didn't get much for it. We ate some but did not find it tasty, so stopped eating it," said Koteswara Rao, farmer.
The state government has also found itself in an embarrassing position when certain commercially approved Mahyco Bt cotton varieties failed and the farmers had to be paid compensation of upto Rs 3 crore.
While wider representation in a body like the GEAC is welcome, activists say it is naive of the state government to assume it will get better control over GM crops simply by being represented.
The GEAC itself is often in the dark about the exact locations where field trials are being carried out.
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2.Make research on modified seeds public
By Dhananjay Mahapatra Times of India, 9 November 2006
http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseaction=news&doc_id=13827&start=1&control=183&page_start=1&page_nr=101&pg=1
NEW DELHI - Supreme Court's poser on Wednesday to the Centre on an NGO's plea to make agri-multinationals a public research data on the effects - both positive and negative - of genetically modified (GM) seeds is sure to ruffle many feathers.
For, while the multinationals focus on the high yield and pest-resistance qualities of the GM seeds, they rarely tell unsuspecting farmers, especially in third world countries like India, about the harmful side-effects on their long term use in traditional farming.
A Bench comprising Justices A R Lakshmanan and Tarun Chatterjee issued notice to the Centre asking it to respond to an application filed by NGO Gene Campaign, which through advocate Sanjay Parikh alleged that transparency in research data is a must for farmers to make an informed choice.
Counsel said the NGO has been seeking data about trials of GM seeds before their approval for commercial cultivation, but the standard reply is that as the data sought for forms part of the intellectual property of the concerned firm, it cannot be made public.
"It is shocking that information that has a bearing on public health and safety can be kept confidential under the present rules," the NGO said and alleged that this lack of transparency makes the GM seeds regulatory regime extremely weak and completely inadequate to protect public from possible health hazards.
It has requested the court to direct the concerned authorities to make public all data that is relevant to determining environment and health safety, including toxicity and allerginicity data, of a genetically engineered plan.
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3.INDIA: AP govt. holds Mahyco from sale of Bollgard-II cotton seed
Bharat Textile, 9 November 2006
http://www.bharattextile.com/newsitems/2002027
HYDERABAD: Mahyco Monsanto Biotech-India Ltd has been put on hold by the Andhra Pradesh government for selling Bollgard-II (Bt-II) cottonseed in the state to examine the economic viability report first, industry sources said here on November 08.
Sources informed that the state had written last month to the GEAC (Genetic Engineering Approval Committee) asking it to send the economic viability report.
Unlike Bollgard that protects the plant from bollworm, Bollgard II is a double-strained insect-protected cotton technology and also offers in-built protection against heliothis pests, yet another deadly pest that affects cotton.
However, Mahyco are arguing that it is beneficial to the farmers and that it helps cut down on input costs on no base and so state government asked the officials of the Agriculture University to go through it and see what economic benefits the farmers would get.
The price of Bt-II cottonseed seemed to be a cause of concern for the state government as company quoted Rs 1,350 for a packet (450 gm) of seed and if they come forward to sell the seed at Rs 750 (the present rate of Bt cottonseed), state government will give the permission right away.
Further, it was because of the state's complaint with the MRTPC (Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission) that the price of Bt cottonseed was reduced to Rs 750 this season.
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