Greenpeace has condemned the Cabinet approval to Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill 2010 and appealed to all political parties to oppose it from being tabled and passed in Parliament.
“Greenpeace appeals to all political parties to demand a withdrawal of the Cabinet approval of the BRAI Bill. We also demand a redrafting of the contents after consultations with public as well as all the State Governments,” Mr Rajesh Krishnan, Greenpeace Campaigns Manager, said.
‘Motives suspect'
The Cabinet approval within a few months of the moratorium on Bt brinjal in February 2010, seems to be a premeditated effort to re-introduce Bt brinjal, Mr Krishnan said.
The Bill proposes a centralised technocratic authority to approve GM (genetically modified) crops with no involvement of elected governments, and has a fundamentally erroneous premise on the safety and necessity of GM crops while entirely depending on safety tests conducted by the companies producing GM seeds to evaluate the environment and human health impacts, he added.
Copyright © 2010, The Hindu Business Line.
