New Delhi, July 30th, 2014: The Coalition for a GM-Free India today demanded that the government be decisive in stopping all approvals for field trials of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) in the country. The Coalition, consisting of more than 400 groups across 22 states also reminded the Bharatiya Janata Party government of its promise in […]
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 […]
Eminent individuals, citizen groups ask Maharashtra’s CM to cancel clearance given for field trials of GM crops
Mumbai, March 13: Mr Shailesh Gandhi, former Central Information Commissioner released a letter to Maharashtra’s Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister written by leading organizations such as BNHS, AGNI, Council for Fair Business Practices, Avaaz and V CAN and by eminent individuals, including the former Director of TISS, former Secretary Agriculture, GOI and four former Judges […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
On what basis is GEAC deciding to woo state govts on GM field trials?
Coalition for a GM-Free India New Delhi 7th May 2012 To, Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan The H’ble Minister, MoSEF (Independent Charge) Government of India. SUBJECT: YOUR STATEMENT IN PARLIAMENT ON 27 MARCH 2012: ‘DELAY IN NOCS FOR GM CROPS TRIALS’ Dear Madam Minister, Greetings from the Coalition for GM-Free India. In your statement in the Rajya […]