I/III. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1002/S00149.htm
*High Court Moved on Genetic Modified Crop Issue: Ministry of Environment Acting Illegally – Hemant Goswami* Committee approving GM food illegal, unconstitutional and unscientific Chandigarh : February 5, 2010 :- The Punjab and Haryana High court was today moved by social activist Hemant Goswami for preventing theMinistry of Environment and Forest to approve genetically engineered and modified crops and vegetables. Goswami alleged that the “Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC)” formed by the Ministry was an illegal body and provided an illegal backdoor entry to big corporate to off-load their genetically modified food without any proper scientific studies on impact on human beings. He further alleged, Ministry of Environment and Forests was the most non-technical and least relevant department of the Central Government to decide on the issues of Genetically engineered items and such arrangement suits the private corporate as it offers a path of least resistance to them. The petition filed by Goswami reads, “The Ministry of Environment and Forestry issued a notification citing the provisions of Section 6, 8 and 25 of the ‘Environment (Protection) Act’ and brought into existence a ‘Genetic Engineering Approval Committee,’ despite the fact that the scope of the Environment Protection Act or the GoI allocation of business rules or the Constitution did not in any way provide for formation or regulation of any such bodies.” The petitioner further mentioned, “The Ministry of Environment also has no financial allocation or budget for the said committees; it also has no expertise and/or even relevant expert people to head such highly technical body where all members are by invitation who come for a few hours every two months. The invites to the virtual and temporary body of GEAC are not even asked to declare the conflict of interest. Even the Member Secretary of GEAC is having qualification and doctorate in Geology and not Genetics. She obtained her Ph.D. in ‘Adsorption studies on uptake of heavy metals by sediment components,’ and her Masters degree in, Applied Earth Science.” “The 1989 rules under which GEAC functions have been made operational despite the fact that the principal Act, namely, The Environment (Protection) Act, did not even had the remotest scope for such rules. The rules have been made in utter violation of The Environment Act, Article 246 of the Constitution, Allocation of Business Rules, and other such provisions. On 23rd of August 2007, the Ministry of Environment and Forest issued another notification, S.O. 1519(E) under theEnvironment Protection Act vide which the Ministry did away with the necessary requirement of seeking approval and labelling requirements for companies selling, distributing or supplying edible or other products, food stuffs, ingredients in food stuffs and additives including processing aids which used genetically modified/engineered organisms or cells for its production/manufact uring,” the petition further mentioned. Highlighting the irregularities, Goswami mentioned, “Packaging/labelling , health effect of foods, effect on human health, food safety, prevention of adulteration and toxicity, food quality and safety of food item does not fall under the preview of the Ministry of Environment, nor does it have the requisite resources, budget and technical qualification within the Ministry of Environment and Forests to handle such intricate, technical and important matters. Genetically modified and engineered food, articles, items and ingredients are known to be highly dangerous with untold and devastating effect on any life-form if not properly tested with multi-generation tests, evaluation and studies by regular experts of the specialised field in a neutral setting with no influence of the promoter of such products. Use of any life-form in such genetically engineered or modified food/articles/ items also have the capacity to bring in untold miseries and fatal consequences on human race and all life-forms.” Hemant Goswami said, “The job of undertaking work on genetically engineering issues or food or agriculture has not been given to the Ministry of Environment according to the business allocation orders of the President of India. Surprisingly still the Environment Ministry is handling the issue of genetical engineering and no body is objecting to it. There is not one genetic scientist in the Environment Ministry. Even under the List II of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution ‘Agriculture, including agricultural education and research, protection against pests and prevention of plant diseases’ comes as item 14 in the exclusive State list and the Union Government should not interfere in it without involving all the States as partners. What the Union Government is currently doing is treachery of highest order with the Constitution and the people of India. This should not go unpunished.” The High Court kept the matter pending for February 22, 2010 for appreciating the details of another case on Bt Brinjal currently listed before the Supreme Court. II. http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/sharad-pawar-bats-for-bt-brinjal-raps-its-opponents/384703/ Sharad Pawar bats for Bt Brinjal, raps its opponentsSanjay Jog / Mumbai February 05, 2010, 1:07 IST The Union agriculture minister, Sharad Pawar, on Thursday brushed off all allegations and reiterated his support for the introduction of Bt Brinjal. He asserted that the introduction of the genetically-modified Brinjal can take place as it has been recommended by Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), a scientific body, after carrying out a series of trials and tests on its impact on nature. “If the introduction of Bt Brinjal will be in the larger interest of the country, farmers and for the food security at large, it should happen,” Pawar said. GEAC, the environment ministry-appointed committee, has found out that Bt Brinjal is not harmful. The agriculture minister suspected the involvement of the pesticide companies, if any, in opposing the introduction of Bt Brinjal. He, however, explained that the environment ministry gives clearance for the launch of new variety of seeds. Once the environment ministry gives its approval, the matter is forwarded to the agriculture ministry. “After the environment ministry’s approval, the agriculture ministry will have no hesitation to extend its support. So far such a clearance for Bt Brinjal from the environment ministry is awaited.” He said similar protests were witnessed against the introduction of Bt Cotton about six years ago. “However, Bt Cotton is now grown on nearly 92 per cent of the cotton growing area in the country. In fact, this has led to a record hike in India’s cotton production.” “Farmers do not go by such opposition but they always weigh what is beneficial for them and for the country as a whole,” Pawar said. He also took a swipe against the non-government organisations (NGOs) for opposing Bt Brinjal. “India imports 40 per cent of its edible oil requirement and that is largely produced through genetically-modified soyabean. It’s quite ironical that when NGOs from the edible oil producing countries are quiet on this issue, they are providing feed to the NGOs in the country against Bt Brinjal.” III. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/AP-vetoes-Bt-Brinjal/articleshow/5543985.cms AP vetoes Bt BrinjalTNN, 7 February 2010, 04:31am IST HYDERABAD/BANGALORE: Even as Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh weathered slogan-shouting farmers, activists, consumers and scientists on the raging debate over Bt Brinjal in Bangalore on Saturday, the Andhra Pradesh government announced that it would not go for commercial cultivation of the vegetable and urged the Centre to defer its decision on the issue. Minister Ramesh — an MP from Andhra Pradesh — said the Centre's decision on Bt Brinjal will be announced in New Delhi on February 10. "The decision will disappoint 50 per cent of India, and the rest will be happy. But my decision will be based on balancing science and society. Public opinion is very important. We should always remember that Bt brinjal is the first genetically modified vegetable in the world," said Ramesh. Andhra Pradesh is the first state to officially oppose the commercial cultivation of Bt Brinjal. The other states opposing it are West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Jairam Ramesh is not only facing opposition from various states and environmental activists, but is pitted against agriculture minister Sharad Pawar within the UPA government. Ramesh had to scurry for cover after protesters gheraoed him over the issue in Hyderabad a few days ago. AP agriculture minister N Raghuveera Reddy announced at a press conference in Hyderabad on Saturday evening that a committee appointed by it had concluded that further trials and a deeper study is needed before going for the commercialisation of Bt brinjal. "There is a need for scientific approval before the crop is commercially produced. We are not against technology improvements in the agriculture field, but we want to ensure that the technology benefits the farmer and increases the yield. We had supported Bt cotton earlier but we are convinced that Bt Brinjal is not yet ready for commercial cultivation. The decision was taken after close consultations with scientists," he said. In Bangalore, activists virtually forced minister Ramesh to concede that the Centre will take a final decision on Bt Brinjal on February 10. Farmers raised concerns about the monopolization of seeds by multinational seed giants like Monsanto, while pro-Bt farmers said only high-yielding varieties like Bt Brinjal could help them overcome poverty and crop loss. A woman farmer from Maddur, Sunanda Jairam said: "Who has given any company or any government the right to interfere in farmers' matters? The land is ours and we'll grow our crops as we want. Half the soil has already been poisoned." -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB.
