The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the commercial release of Genetically Modified (GM) Mustard crop for ten days and asked the Centre to take public opinion on such seeds before releasing it for cultivation purpose, even as government approval is awaited.

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) in India met on August 11 this year to review a safety report by its sub-committee discussing genetically modified (GM) mustard crops and the possibility of introducing them to Indian soil. The Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 or DMH-11 is indigenously developed and, if implemented, would be the second GM crop to gain free approval for cultivation in the country. The GEAC has not granted full approval yet and instead was soliciting comment, feedback, and suggestions. The last day for submissions was October 5. With the deadline behind us, farmers, activists, and corporations alike now await a final decision.

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear a plea against commercial release of genetically modified mustard seed as it may cause irreversible damage to the domestic variety.

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear a plea seeking a stay on commercial release of genetically modified (GM) mustard crop.

On Friday, the Supreme Court is expected to hear a petition by anti-GMO (genetically modified organism) campaigner Aruna Rodrigues, who argues that the Centre’s preliminary clearance to GM mustard, named Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 (DMH-11), contravenes a 2013 report by a Supreme Court-appointed technical expert committee.

GM mustard, which received a nod from the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee, and was open for public consultation till Wednesday, is unlikely to be approved during the ongoing season, Anil M Dave, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, said on Thursday.

The Environment Ministry has received over 700 comments from various stakeholders, including farmers and researchers, on the Assessment of Food and Environmental Safety (AFES) report on environmental release of Genetically Engineered Mustard.

नई दिल्ली: जेनेटिकली मोडिफाइड यानी जीएम सरसों को सरकार की ओर से हरी झंडी मिलने या नहीं मिलने को लेकर बुधवार को जमकर घमासान मचा रहा। जैव प्रौद्योगिकी नियामक जीईएसी (जेनेटिक इंजीनियरिंग अप्रूवल कमेटी) के पास अपना पक्ष रखने के अंतिम दिन विभिन्न संगठनों के बीच बुधवार को भी जमकर आरोप-प्रत्यारोप का दौर चला। स्वयं सेवक संघ के सहयोगी संगठन स्वदेशी जागरण मंच की ओर से प्रधानमंत्री को लिखे पत्र में वैज्ञानिक दीपक पेंटल का नाम लेकर कड़ी आलोचना की गई है।