The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has amended rules for selecting experts for the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC).
Conflict of Interest Provisions
- Amendments to Rules
- Expert members must disclose any interests conflicting with their duties.
- They must ensure conflicts do not influence committee decisions.
- Members with associations related to matters under discussion must disclose these and recuse themselves unless requested otherwise by the committee.
- Past Allegations: In 2013, activists alleged a Technical Expert Committee member had ties with an organization funded by Monsanto, raising conflict of interest concerns.
- Monsanto is one of the pioneers in GM crops. It developed India’s First and only GM crop allowed for cultivation i.e. Bt Cotton.
- Supreme Court’s Role: In July 2023, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to create a national policy on GM crops. Delivered a split verdict on the 2022 GEAC approval for GM mustard:
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- One judge deemed the approval “vitiated” due to inadequate public interest considerations and lack of FSSAI health studies.
- Another judge upheld the approval but emphasized the need for strict government monitoring and conflict resolution processes.
GM Mustard (DMH-11)
- Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 (DMH-11) is a genetically modified hybrid variety of the mustard species Brassica juncea.
- Characteristics: This variant is herbicide tolerant (HT).
- Parent Varieties of GM Mustard
- Indian Mustard: ‘Varuna’
- East European Mustard: ‘Early Heera-2’
- Cross-Breeding: The GM mustard is created by crossing these two varieties.
- Genetic Modification in Mustard
- Barnase and Barstar: Two genes are used in the modification.
- Source: These genes come from the soil bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.
- Purpose of Modification
- High-Yield Hybrids: The genes help create high-yielding commercial mustard hybrids.
- Genetic Purity: The “bar gene” maintains the genetic purity of hybrid seed.
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About Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)
Statutory Status: GEAC is constituted under the 1989 Rules for hazardous microorganisms and genetically engineered organisms, framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
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- It functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
- Functions
- Approves large-scale use of hazardous living microorganisms and recombinants for research and industrial production.
- Appraises proposals for the environmental release of genetically engineered organisms, including field trials.
- GEAC clearance is mandatory for GM crop releases.
- Composition: The composition of the GEAC has been prescribed in Rules 1989 as given below:
- Chairman- Special Secretary/Additional Secretary, MoEF&CC; Co-Chairman – Representative of Department of Biotechnology.
- Members: Representative of concerned Agencies and Departments, namely, Ministry of Industrial Development, Department of Biotechnology and the Department of Atomic Energy.
- Expert members: Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR), Director General of Health Services, Plant Protection Adviser, Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and storage, Chairman of Central Pollution Control Board(CPCB)and three outside experts in individual capacity.
- Member Secretary: An official of theMoEF&CC.
- The committee may co-opt other members/experts as necessary.
- The Committee meets monthly to review applications.
Additional Reading: GM Mustard
January 3, 2025
