Gujarat refuses GM field trials of food crops - The Hindu

Gujarat refuses GM field trials of food crops - The Hindu: "Even as the Union Ministry of Environment seems to be in favour of experimenting with genetically modified (GM) crops, the Gujarat government has firmly indicated that it will not approve of field trials of GM food crops in the State.

In a letter dated September 30 to Kapil Shah of the Baroda-based NGO Jatan, , a section officer of the Gujarat agriculture and cooperation department has said that after due consideration of various representations, the government had decided not to grant a no objection certificate (NOC) for field trials of GM food crops.

The NOC from the State is a statutory requirement for conducting open air field trials. However, it will approve field trials for non- GM food crops, Mr. Shah said.

Mr. Shah told The Hindu on Thursday that after a spate of campaigns and representations to the Chief Minister and other authorities, he had written a letter to the government on September 11 demanding to know what steps were taken on the issue of GM crops. This clarification was in response to that. His efforts and those of other groups have resulted in the Chief Minister appointing a committee to formulate a policy for organic farming in the State.

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) on July 18 had recommended 13 cases of GM crops for confined field trials subject to NOC from the State government."



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