New Delhi 2nd January 2013 To: Ms. Jayanti Natarajan Minister for State for Environment & Forests (Independent Charge) Paryavaran Bhavan, CGO Complex, Lodi Estate, New Delhi. Dear Madam, Re: Improving current regulation and implementing a robust regulatory mechanism for GM crops to ensure biosafety Greetings! And Happy New Year Wishes ! This is with regard […]
ICAR REPORT ON BNBt Cotton EXPOSES INCOMPETENCE OF GM SCIENTISTS AND REGULATORS TO REGULATE GMOs IN INDIA
Coalition for GM Free India demands withdrawal of Supreme Court affidavit of Ministry of Agriculture that gives clean chit to GM regulators. Reacting to the Prof.Sopory Committee Report1 that investigated the Bt Bikaneri Narma case, the Coalition for a GM-Free India said that, “We congratulate the Committee for its thorough investigation which exposes one of […]
GOVERNMENT’S POSITION IN COURT A LET-DOWN AND UNACCEPTABLE, A BOW TO THE PRESSURE FROM BIOTECH INDUSTRY
In today’s Supreme Court hearing in the PIL on GMOs, the Government of India, through its representative from the Ministry of Agriculture (and not the Ministry of Environment & Forests which has the jurisdiction on regulation of GM crops), opposed the scientifically sound recommendations of the Technical Expert Committee to make the GM regulation and […]
Open Letter from Indian Scientists to the Hon’ble Supreme Court
In the case of Aruna Rodrigues Vs. Union of India ( Writ Petition (Civil) No. 260 of 2005) November 8, 2012 To: Hon’ble Justices Swatanter Kumar & S.J Mukhopadhyay Supreme court of India In the case of Aruna Rodrigues Vs. Union of India (Writ Petition (Civil) No. 260 of 2005) Respected Sirs, […]
Major Farmer Unions Urge Supreme Court To Stop GM Field Trials
Before the crucial hearing on 9th November on the interim report of the Court-appointed Technical Expert Committee (TEC) in the GMOs PIL in the Indian Supreme Court, major farmers’ unions across the country have sent letters to the Court, urging it to put an end to field trials of GM crops. These include many of […]
MoEF should accept the Technical Expert Committee’s interim report on GMO field trials
Coalition for a GM-Free India’s letter to Ms Jayanti Natarajan: 6th November 2012 To Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan, Hon’ble Minister for Environment & Forests Government of India. Dear Madam, Sub: MoEF should accept the Technical Expert Committee’s interim report on GMO field trials and safety assessment Greetings! As you are well aware, that the Supreme Court […]
TECHNICAL EXPERT COMMITTEE REPORT SCIENTIFIC AND SENSIBLE: FARMER UNIONS AND COALITION HOPE THAT SUPREME COURT WILL ACCEPT THE INTERIM REPORT IN TOTO
On the eve of the Supreme Court Hearing in the PIL related to GMOs (Writ Petition (Civil) No. 260 of 2005, by Aruna Rodrigues and ors) which is to look into the interim report of the Technical Expert Committee appointed by the Court, the Coalition for a GM-Free India condemned the attempts by the industry, […]
All field trials to be stopped, unless conditions met: SC Technical Expert Committee submits interim report
“10-year Moratorium on field trials of Bt food crops, Moratorium on field trials of Herbicide Tolerant crops (till independent assessment of impact and suitability) and Ban on field trials of GM crops for which India is Centre of Origin/Diversity” In an Interim Report signed off on 7th October 2012 (D.No.1944/2005/SC/PIL in the Assistant Registrar […]
Coalition condemns Biotech industry attempts to hijack and dilute the CBD MOP6 discussions
MOP exposes real safety concerns of GM crops; Coalition demands that India should not allow any open-air field trials or release of GM crops. A comprehensive Biosafety Law be enacted with strict liability and redress provisions. The CBD MOP6, has for once, exposed the Global Biotech industry’s attempts to sabotage the Supplementary Protocol by attempting […]
NO SHORT-CUT TO REAL BIOSAFETY
Today (October 2nd 2012), civil society, particularly from the host country India, urged global leaders at the MOP6 on Biosafety Protocol to follow the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), in letter and spirit, to ensure that our biodiversity and with it the access of the local people to their biological heritage is not sacrificed at […]
“GM Crops a Danger to India’s Food and Nutrition Security”
’GM lobbyists’ claims of yield advantage for GMOs unfounded, state international scientists’ Hyderabad, September 27th 2012: GM crops do not provide a solution to current and coming challenges. These include climate change, increased losses from pests, increasing population, scarce water and expensive energy and fertilizers. Analysis of Monsanto’s new drought-tolerant maize shows that conventional breeding […]
COALITION FOR A GM-FREE INDIA WELCOMES THE PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE’S REPORT ON GM CROPS
ASKS GOVERNMENT TO IMMEDIATELY STOP ALL FIELD TRIALS. ALSO DEMANDS GOVT THROW OUT THE BRAI BILL AND BRING IN A BIOSAFETY STATUTE, AND STOP CALLING BT COTTON IN INDIA A SUCCESS New Delhi, August 9, 2012: Calling the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture’s report on GM crops a historic, comprehensive and well-grounded document, the Coalition […]
‘Studies’ that hype Bt cotton benefits, don’t show how Bt technology contributed to yields: a brief critique
The following is a brief critique in the context of two ‘studies’ that claim great benefits, especially to smallholders, from Bt cotton in India. http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2012/06/25/1203647109.full.pdf+html http://farmersforum.in/policy/study-on-socio-economic-impact-assessment-of-bt-cotton-in-india/ Has Bt technology improved cotton yields in India? Though studies after studies are being brought out by the biotech proponents and industry, claiming that they have findings to show […]
Bihar to continue ban on GM seeds
PATNA: Over 500 varieties of different crop seeds were on display at Gandhi Museum here as agriculturists from all over the country descended on the state capital to take part in the ‘Seed Festival’ being organized to promote the practice of saving seeds by farmers. “Seed is the basic input and is the lifeline of […]
GM label on packaged food soon in India…. MCA issues notification
The Ministry of consumer affairs in an extra ordinary gazette notification, made an amendment to bring in GM food labeling [see page no 6] under G.S.R. 427 (E) 2 (b) (ii) after sub rule 6, the following sub rule shall be inserted with effect from 1st day of January 2013, namely (7) Every packaged containing […]