BANGALORE: The controversial debate on the commercialization of Bt brinjal might just hit a decision point on Wednesday. The Genetic Engineering
Approval Committee (GEAC) will meet on Wednesday to announce their findings on the bio-safety of Bt brinjal and recommend whether it is suitable for environmental release.
A lot of anxiety has built up prior to the meeting as Bt brinjal will be the first food crop to be commercialized in India. In the light of controversy over its safety and impact on India’s varied biodiversity, this meeting will hold special significance.
All stakeholders tried to keep the conclusions under cover to avoid any rebellion against the issue. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India member B S Dongra who is also a member of the GEAC said: “I have doubts, but those might get cleared after the biosafety findings are presented on Wednesday. The government will take appropriate action on the issue.’’
Ranjini Warrier, member secretary, GEAC, preferred not to comment. “I am not authorized to speak about it. We will know the findings only tomorrow after the meeting,” she said. However, sources said that environment minister Jairam Ramesh met Warrier and GEAC chief Parsheera on Tuesday evening to take stock of the matter.
Meanwhile, there was a lot of pressure from civil society organizations who sent letter to the minister’s office asking him to intervene and stop the environmental release of Bt brinjal.
“Over 41,000 letters from different parts of the country have been faxed to minister Jairam Ramesh. The secrecy around this issue is raising more concerns among people. The findings are to decide on the environmental release of the brinjal. It is of great concern for civil society because the government is going to decide what we are to eat.
International experience shows that many countries have had to face problems from the release of such foods. Molecular biologist Gilles-Eric Seralini in his study had revealed that there was an antibiotic gene in Bt brinjal.
The antibiotics are Canamycin and Neomycin, both are drugs for tuberculosis. So chances of antibiotic resistance are also there,” said Sustainable agriculture campaigner Rajesh Krishnan.
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