What if risk of commercial release of GM Mustard is irreversible, Supreme Court asks government

Source: The post is based on the article “What if risk of commercial release of GM Mustard is irreversible, Supreme Court asks government” published in The Hindu on 23rd January 2023

What is the News?

The Supreme Court has asked the Centre what will happen if the risk of commercial release of GM Mustard crop is “irreversible”.

What is GM Mustard?

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Why has there been opposition to the commercial release of GM Mustard?

Firstly, widespread use of herbicide-tolerant crops such as GM Mustard would encourage farmers to spray chemical weed-killers leaving toxic chemical residue in large amounts on the crops.

Secondly, the Supreme Court’s own Technical Expert Committee (TEC) had said that these GM crops were not meant for agriculture in the Indian context. They may be suitable in the western context where there are large farms but not here.

Thirdly, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee(GEAC) which cleared the environmental release of GM Mustard was “horrendous” and riddled with conflict of interest.

– For instance, the Department of Biotechnology had funded GM Mustard and then was part of the regulatory mechanism. 

What were the government’s arguments in support of GM Mustard?

Firstly, GM mustard was not developed as herbicide-tolerant (HT). It is neither necessary nor desirable for a farmer to use herbicides in the cultivation of GM mustard. A crop is referred to as an HT variety if its commercial trait is HT. 

– Moreover, the use of herbicides by farmers is not permitted in cultivating GM mustard and will attract punitive action under the Environment Protection Act and Central Insecticides Act.

Secondly, India imported and consumed oil derived from GM crops, and opposition to such technology based on unfounded fears was hurting farmers, consumers and industry.

Thirdly, GEAC approval to the GM Mustard came after an exhaustive review which began in 2010.