Monsanto’s violations in GM maize trials ignored: RTI reply
February 6th, 2012 - 9:31 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Feb 6 (IANS) The environment ministry’s Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) ignored violation of law by the US-based company Monsanto which conducted trials of herbicide-tolerant, genetically modified (GM) maize across India without permission, an RTI reply revealed Monday.
The Right to Information (RTI) reply, to a query filed by an activist of Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA), revealed that GEAC did not take any action even when a scientist pointed out that planting of herbicide-tolerant GM maize was done without permission. GEAC is the apex body constituted by the ministry for approving GM foods in India.
“Monsanto’s GM maize trials have been going on for several seasons now in various locations around the country. It took a scientist in one monitoring team to point out the fact that planting of the herbicide-tolerant GM maize took place without permission from competent authorities,” said Kavitha Kuruganti, member of Coalition for a GM-Free India.
“What is more damning is that there is no evidence of any discussion or action by the regulators on this finding. This clearly demonstrates that the regulators are unconcerned about biosafety violations or contamination and are protecting and supporting offenders like Monsanto,” she said.
According to ASHA, the GEAC has authorised Monsanto to conduct trials of herbicide tolerant and insect-resistant GM maize but the company conducted trials for only herbicide-tolerant GM maize.
This is also the first GM product of Monsanto in India in its own name and not in the name of associate companies like Mahyco.
“This appears to be a repetition of an earlier episode of herbicide tolerant cotton planted by Mahyco without permission. The GEAC, in that instance, found the clarifications submitted by Mahyco highly unsatisfactory and warned that any non-compliance in future would attract punitive actions,” Kuruganti said.
The coalition demanded that the ministry fix accountability on Monsanto and take action against the regulators who repeatedly fail to check the violations of the corporations.
- No GM crop trials without states' consent: Jairam Ramesh - Mar 09, 2011
- Herbicide tolerant GM crops pose serious health threat: Greenpeace - Aug 04, 2011
- Ban on GM crops' field trials in Karnataka demanded - Jul 04, 2011
- Madhya Pradesh farmers rally to demand ban on GM crop trials - Oct 01, 2009
- GM crops like East India Co, say authorities in Madhya Pradesh - Oct 30, 2009
- Bt Brinjal will be single largest disaster, says scientist - Feb 01, 2010
- Legal action against Mahyco, Monsanto in Bt Brinjal case - Aug 11, 2011
- Monsanto to continue research on GM crops in India - Feb 10, 2010
- Don't allow Bt Brinjal without labelling: CSE - Oct 15, 2009
- Activists write to Ramesh against Monsanto - Jul 05, 2011
- Human rights group opposes trial of genetically modified corn - Oct 13, 2009
- No decision on Bt Brinjal release before February (Roundup) - Oct 15, 2009
- USDA Sued For Allowing To Plant Genetically Modified Sugar Beets - Sep 13, 2010
- Panel to study report on Bt brinjal for approval - Oct 13, 2009
- India shouldn't accept Europe-rejected GM crop: scientists - Jul 10, 2009
Tags: apex body, associate companies, clarifications, company monsanto, competent authorities, free india, geac, genetic engineering, gm foods, gm maize, gm product, herbicide, holistic agriculture, mahyco, monitoring team, monsanto, punitive actions, regulators, repetition, several seasons