Activists question Bt brinjal clearance process

Environment activists today dubbed as illegal the entire process of the clearance given for Bt brinjal by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) contending that it violated the Biological Diversity Act.

Environment activists today dubbed as illegal the entire process of the clearance given for Bt brinjal by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) contending that it violated the Biological Diversity Act.

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"In fundamental violation of the Biological Diversity Act, the rights of communities who gave local varieties for
genetic manipulation by the universities has remained unacknowledged under the Act," Leo Saldanha Coordinator of the
Environment Support Group (ESG) told reporters here.

He said the germplasm of the brinjal varieties placed under moratorium by the government earlier this month was
transferred for research in violation of the Biological Diversity Act.

On reports of government mulling timeframe for the moratorium on Bt brinjal, Kavitha Kuruganti of Kheti Virasat
Mission wanted the government to consider the time taken for all the necessary scientific tests required to be taken to
establish the safety of the genetically modified vegetable.

The Government, on February 9, had imposed a moratorium on the commercialisation of Bt-brinjal till such time
independent scientific tests establish the safety of the product on human health and environment.

After differing views in the government on the issue, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had called a meeting of
concerned ministers on February 24 and favoured continuation of the moratorium on commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal.