New Delhi, May 2nd2018: Continuing the complaint-forwarding chain, Ministry of Commerce & Industry’s Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has asked Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare to take actions on the illegal Genetically Modified (GM) seed import taking place in India. Ironically, while […]
FSSAI keeps mum on illegal GM foods flooding the Indian market
With regard to GM foods found to be available in India, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court last year (May 2017), wherein, on Page 9, it said “Hence, GM foods are not allowed in the country and neither can be regulated till such notification is […]
Coalition complains to Centre on illegal import of multiple GM seeds and lack of action on confirmed GM soybean case from months ago
GEAC and DGFT prove to be irresponsible regulators “By not preventing illegal genetically modified seeds from entering the country, our regulators continue to dodge their responsibilities – jeopardizing environment and health of citizens” New Delhi, March 6th 2018: A recent complaint lodged with the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) and a Right To Information (RTI) […]
Complaint to GEAC for GM Soybean LMO Import
This is our complaint letter to GEAC regarding GM soybean LMO import in India. ——————————————————————————————————————– To: Shri Arun Kumar Mehta, The Chairperson, Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), Ministry for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jor Bagh, New Delhi – 110001 January 31st 2018 Subject: Urgent action demanded on illegal GM […]
Our complaint on import of GMOs and GM foods illegally, in violation of DGFT Notification
GM soybean seeds and food material is being imported illegally in India. Below is our complaint letter to DGFT regarding illegal import of GM soybean seeds and GM food material. ————————————————————————— To: Director General of Foreign Trade, Udyog Bhawan, H-Wing, Gate No-02, Maulana Azad Road, New Delhi – 110001 31st January 2018 Subject: Complaint on […]
Coalition’s Letter & Presentation to “Field Inspection and Scientific Evaluation Committee” looking into illegal Herbicide Tolerant (HT) Cotton in India
Civil society representatives were called to a meeting of a new Committee called FISEC (Field Inspection and Scientific Evaluation Committee) which was set up at the PMO’s behest to look into illegal GM HT cotton cultivation in India. There have been years and years of inaction on this by our regulators incl. state agriculture departments. […]
REGULATORS CAUGHT NAPPING AGAIN, WHILE ILLEGAL GM SOY CULTIVATION STARTS IN INDIA
“Urgent action to fix liability on regulators as well as seed suppliers, while ensuring that farmers are not criminalised in any way”, say GM-Free activists (Hindi press release downloadable here) New Delhi, November 6th 2017: Reacting to a new major development in the GM crop controversy, after illegal GM soy cultivation was discovered in Gujarat, […]
Thanks to GEAC, for running the Great Indian Circus in the name of GMO regulation
———- Forwarded message ———- From: GM Free India <indiagmfree@gmail.com> Date: 26 October 2017 at 13:49 Subject: Our thanks to GEAC, for running the Great Indian Circus in the name of GMO regulation To: geac.secretariat@gov.in, asap.moefcc@gov.in, gyanesh.bharti@ias.nic.in, Madhumita Biswas <mbiswas2012in@gmail.com>, membersecretarygeac@gmail.com Cc: kveluthambi@rediffmail.com, crb26@hotmail.com, sesikeran B <sesikeran@gmail.com>, nppbg@pau.edu, kk.sinha@nic.in, srrao@dbt.nic.in, aptesk@barc.gov.in, ddgcs.icar@nic.in, js_sandhuin@yahoo.com, kumarv@icmr.org.in, sonti@ccmb.res.in, Swati_sri_2002@yahoo.com, […]
“We need responsible science to prevail given solid evidence against GM mustard”
Coalition notes that Centre is not rushing headlong into GM mustard environmental release: “We need responsible science to prevail given solid evidence against GM mustard” New Delhi, September 15th 2017: Reacting to the Government of India’s statement in the Supreme Court of India today that it is yet to take a final decision on […]
Coalition responds to NAAS’s “report” in defence of GM mustard
———- Forwarded message ———- From: GM Free India <indiagmfree@gmail.com> Date: 11 September 2017 at 14:17 Subject: Response to NAAS’s report “Falsehoods perpetrated by GM technology bashers on GM mustard” To: naas@vsnl.com Cc: panjabsingh03@yahoo.com, drhrshvardhan@gmail.com, ps2mefcc@gov.in Dear NAAS scientists, Please find pasted below, and attached a response from the Coalition for a GM-Free India, to your […]
IMPROVING INDIA’S RAPESEED – MUSTARD YIELDS SUBSTANTIALLY, SUSTAINABLY & SAFELY
New Delhi, August 31st 2017: At a time when the highly-controversial and hazardous transgenic technology is sought to be applied to Mustard, citing India’s edible oil import crisis[i], farmers from a few states came to the national capital to present from first-hand experience how rapeseed-mustard yields can be boosted substantially, deploying safe, sustainable and […]
“Not a coincidence that several credible committees are asking for stopping of introduction of GM crops into India” – Coalition for a GM-Free India
New Delhi, August 26th 2017: Reacting to the 301st report of the Parliamentary Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests headed by Ms Renuka Chowdhury on GM crops in India, the Coalition for a GM-free India pointed out that it is no coincidence that credible committees are asking for stopping of introduction of GM […]
GM-free Coalition pays tribute to Prof.P.M.Bhargava
The Coalition for a GM Free India registers with great sadness the demise of scientist Dr Pushpa Mittra Bhargava (1928 – 2017) yesterday in Hyderabad. The Coalition members express our deep sorrow at the passing of Prof Bhargava and pay profound and respectful tribute to the man and to the scientist. Dr Bhargava was an […]
“No need to dilly dally on a simple, public interest and promised decision to be taken: Say NO to GM mustard” – Coalition for a GM-Free India to Government of India
New Delhi, July 31st 2017: The Coalition for a GM-free India, a pan-Indian informal alliance of more than 150 organisations, urged the Government of India to reject the GM mustard environmental release application without any further delay. Reacting to the Government’s statement in the Supreme Court that it has not yet taken a policy stand […]
Prominent Economists Write to PM on Environmental Release of GM Mustard
From: Sudarshan Iyengar <sudarshan54@gmail.com> Date: 30 July 2017 at 06:54 Subject: Environmental Release of GM Mustard To: narendramodi1234@gmail.com, connect@mygov.nic.in, indiaportal@gov.in Cc: info@drharshvardhan.com, drhrshvardhan@gmail.com, ps2mefcc@gov.in, rsc-st@sansad.nic.in, am.krishi@nic.in, radhamohansingh@radhamohansingh.com July 29th 2017 To, Hon. Prime Minister, Government of India, South Block, Raisina Hill, New Delhi 110 011. Sub: Environmental Release of GM Mustard Dear Prime Minister, […]