Question : COMMITTEE ON GM CROPS

(a) the policy of the Government on GM crops and the guidelines issued on the trials of GM crops;

(b) whether any expert committee has been constituted to conduct scientific study on GM crops and its impact on human health and environment including disappearance of monarch butterfly;

(c) if so, the details and the recommendations thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(d) whether the Government has lifted the ban imposed on field trial of 13 GM food crops; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), the apex body notified under “Rules for the Manufacture, Use/Import/Export and Storage of Hazardous Micro Organisms/ Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989” is following a case by case assessment of GM crops. All experimental field trials are conducted as per the stringent norms prescribed in the “Guidelines and Safe Operating Practices for the Conduct of Confined Field Trials of Transgenic Plant, 2008” which is as per international best practices.

(b)&(c) A Technical Expert Committee (TEC) was constituted vide Hon’ble Supreme Court Order dated 10.5.2012 in the matter of Writ Petition (Civil) No. 260/2005 to address issues related to genetically modified (GM) crop field trials. The TEC has submitted two final reports; one which has the concurrence of five of its six members and the second by Dr R.S Paroda; sixth member. Both the reports have highlighted suggestions for improving the biosafety regulation in India. Five members of TEC have recommended that the GM crop field trials be put on hold till all recommendations are implemented. The sixth Member of TEC has stated that the existing safety norms for field trials prescribed by the GEAC are adequate. The UOI has filed its objections in the Supreme Court through a joint Common Affidavit on 1.4.2014. UOI is of the view that research in GM and confined field trials for generating biosafety data with all due precautions should be allowed to continue in the national interest.

(d)&(e) As of date, there is no ban on GM crop field trials neither by the Government nor the Supreme Court.