Bt brinjal

Billed to confuse

A new bill leaves little scope for dissent on GMOs

by Savvy Soumya Mishra

If the nationwide furore over Bt brinjal was driven by the fear of unsafe food being pushed down the throat, the proposed Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) bill goes a step further to silence all opposition. The bill will bring about changes in regulating the research, transport, import, manufacture and use of genetically modified (GM) products in the country.

Bt Brinjal: why we should not make a mash of it

The minister for environment and forests has announced his decision on Bt-brinjal – whether the world’s first genetically modified vegetable should be given permission to be grown and eaten in the country. And before I discuss the issues further, let me also make my own bias clear. I am not an anti-GM-person. In other words, I have no ideological problems with the use of genetically modified technology to improve crop yields. But I am anti-Bt-brinjal and believe the minister is right in not  giving clearance.

CSE Special: Moratorium on Bt brinjal: Jairam Ramesh

On February 9, minister of state for environment Jairam Ramesh announced an indefinite moratorium on introducing Bt brinjal.

Read more:

Moratorium on Bt brinjal: Jairam Ramesh

SAVVY SOUMYA MISRA

On February 9, minister of state for environment Jairam Ramesh announced an indefinite moratorium on introducing Bt brinjal—the first genetically modified crop for mass production in India. In doing so, he overruled the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) that had approved commercial cultivation of the food crop on October 14, 2009.

Related Articles: 

CSE Letter to MoEF Read more...

DTE Cover Story: India's First Genetically Modified Food Crop

Press Release:

:: Bt brinjal cleared without adequate labelling and regulatory regime: CSE

Reports:

:: Minister's report on decision regarding Bt Brinjal - 09 Feb 2010

:: Annexure - Report of National consultations on Bt Brinjal

:: The development and regulation of Bt Brinjal in India

:: Report of the expert committee (EC-II) on Bt brinjal event EE-1

:: Effects on health and environment of transgenic (or GM) Bt brinjal

:: A review of Mahyco’s GM Brinjal food safety studies

:: National consultations on Bt Brinjal: primer on concerns, issues and prospects

:: Bt brinjal: the truth behind it

DTE Stories:

:: How Bt brinjal was cleared

:: Green signal for Bt brinjal

:: GM food can cause cancer

:: Bt Brinjals in markets near you Listen to Pushpa M Bhargava's, interview

Press Release: CSE supports environment minister on Bt-brinjal

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has come out in support of the verdict on Bt-brinjal given here today by Jairam Ramesh, minister of state (independent charge) for environment and forests.

Related Articles: 

CSE Letter to MoEF Read more... DTE Cover Story: India's First Genetically Modified Food Crop Press Release: Bt brinjal cleared without adequate labelling and regulatory regime: CSE Reports: Minister's report on decision regarding Bt Brinjal - 09 Feb 2010 Annexure - Report of National consultations on Bt Brinjal The development and regulation of Bt Brinjal in India Report of the expert committee (EC-II) on Bt brinjal event EE-1 Effects on health and environment of transgenic (or GM) Bt brinjal A review of Mahyco’s GM Brinjal food safety studies National consultations on Bt Brinjal: primer on concerns, issues and prospects Bt brinjal: the truth behind it DTE Stories: How Bt brinjal was cleared Green signal for Bt brinjal GM food can cause cancer Bt Brinjals in markets near you Listen to Pushpa M Bhargava's, interview

Bt brinjal: a CSE update

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has come out in support of the verdict on Bt-brinjal given here today by Jairam Ramesh, minister of state (independent charge) for environment and forests.

Related Articles: 

CSE Letter to MoEF Read more... DTE Cover Story: India's First Genetically Modified Food Crop Press Release: February 9, 2010 CSE supports environment minister on Bt-brinjal Bt brinjal cleared without adequate labelling and regulatory regime: CSE Reports: Minister's report on decision regarding Bt Brinjal - 09 Feb 2010 Annexure - Report of National consultations on Bt Brinjal The development and regulation of Bt Brinjal in India Report of the expert committee (EC-II) on Bt brinjal event EE-1 Effects on health and environment of transgenic (or GM) Bt brinjal A review of Mahyco’s GM Brinjal food safety studies National consultations on Bt Brinjal: primer on concerns, issues and prospects Bt brinjal: the truth behind it DTE Stories: How Bt brinjal was cleared Green signal for Bt brinjal GM food can cause cancer Bt Brinjals in markets near you Listen to Pushpa M Bhargava's, interview

How Bt brinjal was cleared

Anti-GM groups say expert panel acted under pressure

by Savvy Soumya Misra

A coalition of organizations opposed to genetically modified food in India has written to the minister of state for environment and forests seeking withdrawal of clearance given to Bt brinjal. The Coalition for GM-free India alleged the expert committee that cleared the genetically modified brinjal for commercial cultivation in the country was neither impartial nor thorough.

Bt brinjal cleared without adequate labelling and regulatory regime: CSE

New Delhi, October 15, 2009: The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said today that the government should not clear any genetically modified food crop till the time we have strict provisions for labelling. Bt brinjal will be one of the few crops which are used for human consumption directly and not processed into bread or used in other processed foods. “Clearance of such a crop requires the authorities to practice extreme caution.