New Delhi -- Bangalore-based Foundation for Biotechnology Awareness and Education (FBAE) today said that it will submit a memorandum to the government, seeking the removal of a moratorium imposed by the environment ministry on commercialisation of the BT Brinjal crop.
"We are going to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture and the other departments concerned, requesting them to remove the moratorium imposed on the use of BT Brinjal," FBAE Consultant-Biotechnology & Medicinal Plants C Kameswara Rao told reporters.
Earlier, the environment ministry had imposed the moratorium on the commercial release of Bt Brinjal following concerns raised by a section of the society, specifically scientists and several non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The environment minister has also put together a list of various BT crops, whose applications for commercial cultivation are pending with the government’s Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC). They include cauliflower, tomato, potato, corn, okra, cabbage and rice.
The foundation has also requested the government to accept the recommendation of GEAC, which favoured the release of BT Brinjal for commercial use without further delay.
"The government's decision of putting a moratorium would seriously affect research and development activities in the country's biotechnology sector," Rao said.
© PTI 2010
