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Bt brinjal in controversy
Several studies on Bt crops show that there are many potential health hazards in foods
bio-engineered in this manner. GM-fed animals in various studies have shown that there are problems with
growth, organ development and damage, immune responsiveness and so on. With Bt
crops, a recent study from Madhya Pradesh in India shows adverse human health
impacts in farm and factory workers with allergies caused by Bt Cotton. Itching
skin, eruptions on the body, swollen faces etc., were also reported,
A debate over the safety of Bt brinjal continues with mixed views
from scientists working for the government, farmers and environment activists. Environment
activists says the effect of GM (genetically modified) crops on rats
have shown to be fatal for lungs and kidneys. It is dangerous to introduce these
experimental foods into the market without proper research, they say.
A study by French scientist Gilles-Eric Seralini says the tests conducted by
Mahyco, the company producing Bt brinjal, were simply not valid and raised serious health concern
Environment activists says Bt cotton has already been declared a farce with crop failures and mass suicides
of farmers in India. What will be the fate of Indian agriculture, farmers and
consumers if Bt brinjal and other genetically modified crops are introduced?
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar reportedly said the committee's decision was
final. Meanwhile, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said that "the Genetic
Engineering Approval Committee may well be a statutory body but when crucial
issues of human safety are concerned, the government has every right. . . to take the final decision."
Science and Technology Minister Prithviraj Chavan, said he stood by the committee's findings.
"After consultations with the stakeholders and other government agencies, the
final word will come after February 20 after submitting the report to Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh. We assure people of independent and transparent
decision over Bt brinjal, it is not going to be taken in a closed room," Jairam Ramesh said.
A Ramadoss, Union health minister during 2004-2009, had also opposed the
introduction of GM brinjal in India.
Protests
There have been countrywide protests against the introduction of genetically
modified crops. Vandana Shiva an environmentalist also pointed out that the so-called safety tests
have not tested for transgenic Bt that includes genes for antibiotic resistance
and genes for viral promoters.
The All India Kisan Sabha has said that there should be no hasty introduction of
Bt brinjal without addressing these concerns. It also demands complete
transparency from the GEAC and making public the nature of the trials carried
out and the bio-safety of the products.
The governments of West Bengal, Orissa, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and
Bihar have all indicated their opposition to the Union government's plan to approve Bt Brinjal.
The Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology, Navdanya, farmers
unions and public interests groups in India had warned the government that this
irresponsible, rushed clearance would have high cost for farmers in terms of the economic sovereignty and seed sovereignty.
Mahyco claims
Due the growing protest over BT brinjal, Mahyco claims that Bt brinjal is resistant to
pests and therefore will need less use of pesticides and insecticides, reducing
the cost of production. A Mahyco statement said, 'Insect-resistant Bt brinjal has been in development
for nine years. It has been tested in full compliance with the guidelines and
directives of the regulatory authorities to ensure its safety. It is the most
rigorously tested vegetable with 25 environmental biosafety studies supervised
by independent and government agencies. It has the same nutritional value and is
compositionally identical to non Bt brinjal, except for the additional Bt
protein which is specific in its action against the Brinjal Fruit and Shoot Borer (BFSB).'
GEAC's
expert, appointed by the Supreme Court
Professor P M Bhargava, GEAC's only independent expert, appointed by the Supreme
Court said that a majority of the necessary biosafety tests were skipped before
the clearance was given. Bhargava is the founder director of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) as well as a National Knowledge Commission member.
He is also the independent nominee of the Supreme Court to the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), the country's biotech regulator.
Bhargava stressed that when the entire European Union had denied Bt products, the only reason
well known faces in the biotech industry like Kiran Mazumdar Shaw were vouching for its release was business
interests.
Decision
on Bt Brinjal
New Delhi, January 30, 2010, Union Minister for Environment
& Forests Jairam Ramesh today said his Ministry would try to
arrive at a consensus on the basis of public consultations across
the country before taking a final decision on introducing Bt Brinjal.
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