India: Biotech regulatory committee approves commercial release of GM Mustard

The government’s biotech regulator on Thursday approved India’s first transgenic food crop GM Mustard for commercial release.

The environment ministry’s Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) recommended the commercial release after day-long deliberations on the safety aspects of the crop, government sources said.

The genetically modified (GM) Mustard seeds developed by Delhi University’s Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP) will be released for sowing after the environment ministry approves it.

“The GEAC has proven yet again that it is unscientific and uncaring with regards to citizen’s health and environment. They have failed in their mandate and purpose for which they have been created, to protect health of citizens from GMO,” said Kavita Karuganti of Coalition for GM Free India.

On September 2016, the GEAC made public safety assessment report prepared by one of its sub-committee which termed the GM Mustard technology to be safe.

However, civil society organisations opposed the claim saying the report was flawed.