(a) whether the Union Government has received any request from the State Government of
Kerala to declare their State as ‘GM free State’ and
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Union Government thereon?
(a) whether the Union Government has received any request from the State Government of
Kerala to declare their State as ‘GM free State’ and
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Union Government thereon?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)
(a) The Government of Kerala has informed that they have taken a decision to prohibit
environmental release of all Genetically Modified (GM) seeds and keep the state totally GM
free.
(b) The Government of India is following a policy of case by case assessment of GM crops.
A final view on the commercialization of GM plants is taken only when scientific studies
establish that it is safe from the point of view of its long term impacts on human health
and environment. However as agriculture is a state subject, it is the prerogative of the
State Governments to decide whether to adopt GM seeds or not in their commercial production.