Bt brinjal approval questioned

Jan 28, 2010

New Delhi, Jan. 27: The Centre of Social Health and Medical Science (CSMCH) of the Jawaharlal Nehru University has expressed concern at the approval granted to Bt brinjal by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC).

The CSMCH has sent a letter to minister of environment, Jairam Ramesh, pointing out the ‘serious methodological flaws in the study’ as also the ‘ethical issues’ raised by allowing for its environmental release. The letter highlights that the argument that Bt brinjal would not require pesticides is incorrect. “There are other, better, pest management methods like non-pesticidal management that we need to utilise.” It takes note of the “profound conflict of interest issues involved in the studies carried out in India. The companies that stand to gain by the introduction of these crops into the market are the very sponsors of these studies which is unacceptable.” Prof Mohan Rao, chairperson, CSMCH, believes, “Concerns about health risks relating to GM crops are too serious to be disregarded.”

Age Correspondent

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