www.checkbiotech.org ; www.raupp.info ; www.czu.cz

The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Centre to conduct approved field
trials of genetically modified (GM) seeds in the country subject to certain
restrictions.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan permitted field
trials of GM crops, which were earlier approved by the Genetic Engineering
Approval Committee (GEAC) in April and May 2006, provided it fulfilled
certain conditions.

The government should increase the isolation distance up to 200 metres
between the GM planted fields and the other fields and a protocol for
testing for contamination up to 0.01% for neighbouring fields was
established, the apex court said.

It also said a designated scientist should be made responsible for ensuring
that all the conditions were complied with during the field trials of GM
seeds. While the court allowed the commercial release of four approved Bt
cotton varieties, it said no new species should be introduced.

The bench said GEAC, the GM regulatory authority under the Union ministry of
environment and forests, should submit a detailed data, if any, about the
effects of GM crops ? the toxicity and allergic reactions before the court.

The apex court, on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Aruna
Rodrigues and others, had on September 22, last year had directed GEAC not
to clear any GM crop for fresh field trials on May 1 last year, it had also
said the GEAC and not the review committee for genetic manipulation under
the department of biotechnology should be responsible for field trials and
approval of GM crops.

[economictimes.indiatimes.com]