Controversy on Genetically Modified Foods

I have been reading about the Bill for the establishment Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) which will act as a single window clearance mechanism for Genetically modified (GM) crops.

This arises among the earlier nationwide debate on Bt Brinjal (GM brinjal) highlighted the concerns of all sections of the society including scientist on GM food in general and Bt Brinjal in particular. This also saw 10 state governments writing to the central government about the concerns they have with Bt Brinjal. All this at that time had lead to a moratorium on Bt Brinjal declared by the Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.

It aroused my curiosity on the topic and here are some things I found about GM crops in general. Please visit the sites in the link to know more.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/365282/genetically_modified_foods_how_do_they.html?cat=5

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/10266/the_promise_and_peril_of_genetically.html?cat=58

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H9WZGKQeYg&feature=player_embedded

http://greenpeace.in/safefood/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bt_brinjal

In a nutshell the concern with GM are, The unpredictability and irreversibility of Genetic Engineering (GE) and the uncontrollability of GE crops in the environment coupled with studies pointing at the potential risk to human health and environment has resulted in a controversy across the world around the need for introducing such potentially risky organisms.

If you think you care enough for this, please sign a letter to Parliament to resolve the Bill.

Here are the highlights from the letter, that demands the revision of the problems with this bill:

* The approval of GM crops would be based on a presumption that GM crops are a potential solution to all agricultural problems and that the country’s food security crisis can be resolved by introducing GM crops. On the contrary, many scientists agree to fact that real solutions for today’s agricultural problems are in ecological farming methods.
* The approvals also presume that the safety of a GM crop can be best assessed by the company which stands to benefit from the approval.
* The bill proposes a centralized, technocratic decision making authority with no scope for democratic intervention. The apex authority is the BRAI with a chairperson and two members, all scientists with either a biotech or a health background.
* BRAI gives no role to state governments in the approval of GM crops even though agriculture is a state subject under the Indian constitution.
* BRAI sits inside the Ministry of Science and technology creating serious conflict of interest.Dept of Biotechnology – under the Ministry of Science &Technology, has the mandate of promotion of GE crops. DBT funds several GE crop development projects using public funds and is the nodal agency for redirecting funds from foreign governments to GE crop development projects.
* Sections of the bill super cede the Right to Information Act and place the decision to disclose information for public interest with the authority instead of the Central Information Commission or the Delhi high court. The BRAI would kill any informed public debate on GE crops in future, one of the aspects that helped in stopping Bt Brinjal.
* BRAI kills consumer choice and promotes GE polluters as it has no provision for labeling of GE crops, or liability of the crop developer due to economic losses by contamination.


I did so by visiting Green Peace India site.
http://greenpeace.in/safefood/change-brai-bill-stop-gm-food-india/