GE Mustard assessed over period of 10 years for safety: Govt

Genetically Engineered (GE) Mustard has been assessed over a period of ten years for safety to environment and human health under the oversight of 3-tier statutory regulatory committees with external experts, the government today said.
"Under the rules for manufacturing, use/import/export and storage of hazardous microorganisms/genetically modified engineered organisms or cells (Rules 1989) of Environment Protection Act 1986, all genetically engineered products have to undergo a step-by-step food and environmental safety assessment in accordance with technical guidelines published from time to time.
"Following this process, the GE Mustard has been assessed over a period of ten years for safety to environment and human health under the oversight of three-tier statutory regulatory committees with external experts from laboratory to confined biosafety research field trials," Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.

He said his ministry on its website has published a detailed assessment of food and environmental safety document on GE Mustard for written public comments.
"This document explains in detail the basis for ecological safety of GE mustard based on molecular characterisation and evaluation of weediness potential, crossability and gene flow studies, studies on soil microbial community and pest disease and beneficial organisms," he said.
Various farmers organisations, including that affiliated to RSS, and environmental activists have been opposing commercial cultivation of GM mustard.

The country's biotech regulator Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) has recently sought public comments on the safety aspects on GM mustard variety developed by Delhi University's Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants.

Following this, the Environment Ministry has received over 700 comments from various stakeholders, including farmers and researchers, on the assessment of food and environmental safety (AFES) report on environmental release of genetically engineered mustard.
Dave said the Delhi University has not developed three
varieties but through genetic engineering produced two male sterile and restorer parental lines and resultant hybrid produced by crossing them.
The GE mustard technology is to produce new generation better hybrids with higher yields compared to traditional varieties and convention hybrids.
"There is adequate evidence in the data generated and monitored by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) - Directorate of Mustard Research Centre, over a period of time for superior performance over the parents used," Dave said.

He said the format for written public comments is to facilitate specific concerns on each chapter of assessment document with adequate provision for expression of general comments.
"It was not compulsory to follow the format. As a result, many comments have also been received in detail beyond the scope of the format," he said.