A regulatory committee has recommended the environmental release of genetically engineered (GE) mustard to the government but no final decision has been taken yet, Rajya Sabha was told today.
Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan in a written reply said that the application for GE mustard submitted by Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP), University of Delhi is not a Herbicide Tolerant (HT) crop but the usage of herbicide is limited only for hybrid seed production.
The minister said that the apex regulatory committee constituted under the Rules for the Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous micro-organisms or GE organisms or cells (Rules 1989) held its 133rd meeting held on May 11 this year.
"(It) has recommended the proposal for environmental release of GE mustard submitted by CGMCP to the government for its final decision. No decision has yet been taken," the minister said.
This came after the Centre today told the Supreme Court that it will take a decision in a month-and-a-half on whether to allow the commercial roll out of Genetically Modified (GM) mustard crop in the country.
"The application submitted by CGMCP seeking permission for environmental release of GE mustard is not HT crop. In fact, it relates to HT and usage of herbicide is limited only for hybrid seed production," the minister said.
As per the data provided by the applicant to Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), the applicant has compared DMH-11 with Varuna (barnase), EH-2 (barstar), Varuna, EH-2, Maya or RL-1359.
He was asked whether the Genetically Modified Herbicide Tolerant (GMHT) Mustard, normally referred to DMH-II have not outperformed non-GM hybrid varieties in terms of yield.
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