Centre on GM mustard crop

Why in news?

Indian government don’t have any policy decision on the commercial release of Genetically Modified (GM) mustard crop.

Why GM mustard is opposed?

• Hybrids are normally obtained by crossing two genetically diverse plants from the same species, but there is no natural hybridisation system in mustard.
• The new technology for GM mustard has used a “Barnase” gene isolated from a soil bacterium.
• The resultant hybrid mustard plant will be high-yielding.
• This incorporation of alien genes led to the opposition.
• This same technology has been used in GM cotton.
• The opponents of GM mustard point out that cotton is not a food crop, while mustard is India’s largest edible oil-yielding crop.

What is the status of its commercial release?

• The apex court had on October 17 last year gave the stay on the commercial release of GM mustard crop until further orders.
• The court had asked the Centre to seek public opinion on such seeds before releasing it for cultivation purposes, even as government approval is awaited.
• Recently, the Union government informed the Supreme Court that it has no policy decisions on GM mustard.

Why SC demands for a well-informed view on GM mustard? 

• Mustard is one of India’s most important winter crops, which is sown between mid-October and late-November.
• The government sowing the seeds in various fields and the bio-safety dossier has to be put on the website, which has not been done yet.
• The field trials were being carried out by the government without conducting the relevant tests.
• The contamination of germ plasm will happen with mustard HT (Herbicide Tolerant) DMH 11, it will be irremediable and irreversible making our food toxic at the molecular level without recourse.
• A Technical Expert Committee (TEC) report has pointed out that the entire regulatory system on GM mustard is a messes and a 10-year suspension should be given.

Quick fact

Genetic engineering appraisal committee (GEAC)

• It is established under Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
• It is the apex body for approval of activities involving large scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recom­binants.
• It is also responsible for ap­proval of proposals relating to release of genetically engineered organisms and products including experimen­tal field trials.

Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP)

• It is a R&D setup of Delhi University.
• It takes important researches on bio technology.
• This centre developed many indigenous genetically modified seeds.

Source: Business Line