Amid protests against allowing genetically modified mustard in the country, the government today said it will conduct a public consultation on recommendations made by a panel on bio-safety aspects of commercial cultivation of such crops.
The matter will be consequently taken into account by a larger panel, Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), which serves as the biotech regulator, under the Environment Ministry for a final decision by the government.
"No final decision has been taken as yet on the issue. The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) in a meeting held on August 11, 2016, examined the 'safety document' prepared by its sub-committee," it added.
"GEAC has appraised the 'safety document'... And the safety document will be put up on the website of GEAC inviting comments from the public."
After the public consultation, GEAC will finalise its recommendations to the environment ministry, which will take a final decision on this important matter.
GEAC had set up a sub-committee to assess risk factors associated with a new variety of genetically modified (GM) mustard developed by the Delhi University's Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants.
At present, Bt cotton is the only GM crop allowed for commercial cultivation in the country. The UPA government had put moratorium on commercialisation of Bt brinjal amid protest from green activists.
If the government clears GM mustard, it would be the first GM food crop in India.
Last month, anti-GM activists had vowed to step up their resistance to GM mustard and demanded fixing liability on crop developers for providing "false" evidence to the country's biotech regulator.
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