GEAC SUB-COMMITTEE’S BIOSAFETY CLEARANCE OF GM MUSTARD: HOW RELIABLE[1]? India’s apex regulatory body called Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee or GEAC has recently (on September 5th 2016) put out an announcement inviting public feedback till October 5th, on its assessment of GM mustard. The following pages are the analysis of the Coalition for a GM-Free India […]
Supreme Court hearing on the PIL on GM crops now on 1st of April – Coalition for a GM Free India demands UPA government to stop misinforming the Court and not stand in the way of delivery of Justice
New Delhi, 30th March 2014: In the latest development related to the public debate and controversy around Genetically Modified (GM) crops in India, the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India preponed its hearing on the PIL on GM crops from 15th April to 1st of April 2014 (1). This comes after the hasty, unethical and questionable […]
Seeking extension of timeline for BRAI Bill feedback (Coalition’s letter to the S&T Standing Committee)
June 13, 2013 To Dr. T Subbarami Reddy, MP Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee for Science & Technology, Environment & Forests. Re: To seek extension of time to 90 days for public feedback on the BRAI Bill Respected Sir, Please accept our warm greetings ! We have seen the notification issued on June 11, 2013 by […]
Conflict of Interest pervades Supreme Court’s expert committee too!
To: May 6, 2013 Learned Bench of Supreme Court of India, In Civil Writ Petition 260 of 2005. Respected Sirs, Sub: Conflict of interest of a member of the Court’s Technical Expert Committee – reg. Ref: GMOs PIL, Civil Writ Petition 260 of 2005 Greetings! Greetings from the Coalition for a GM-Free India ! […]
Govt betrays the nation on Earth Day! Tables deeply flawed (Biotech Regulatory Authority of India) BRAI Bill
Bill introduced despite trenchant opposition within and outside the Parliament New Delhi, 23rd April 2013: The Coalition for a GM-Free India expressed deep disappointment at the Government’s action of sneaking in the controversial Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill 2013, in Parliament today (22nd April, 2013) despite strong opposition from parliamentarians, scientists, civil society […]
“Mounting scientific evidence on adverse impacts of GM crops/foods”: Govt and Proponents should stop fooling public about transgenics
On the 11th anniversary of the official approval of Bt Cotton in India, Coalition for a GM Free India releases a compilation of more than 400 published papers showing adverse impacts of genetically modified crops / food New Delhi 26/03/2013: On the 11th anniversary of the official approval of Bt cotton in India, the Coalition […]
“Biodiversity and Biosafety key to Food Security"
“TRANSGENICS WILL NOT MEET OUR FOOD SECURITY NEEDS” National Seminar on GM Crops and Food Security asks for a Biosafety Law to be enacted New Delhi / Ahmedabad, February 15, 2013: The 2-day national seminar on “GM Crops and Food Security” jointly organized by Jatan Trust, Gujarat Vidyapith and Bharatiya Kisan Sangh concluded in Ahmedabad […]
Letter from Civil Society Organisations on Improving current regulation and implementing a robust regulatory mechanism for GM crops to ensure biosafety
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 […]
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 […]