Context: The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has amended the rules governing the selection of experts to the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), the apex technical body regulating genetically modified (GM) seeds in India. Under the new rules, an “expert member” ought to disclose their “interest” that could conflict with their duties. The expert is also expected to take all steps necessary to ensure that any conflict of interest does not affect any decision of the GEAC. These rules come on the back of a Supreme Court order in July 2023 requiring that the Centre form a national policy on GM crops.
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Key points
·Overview: The Supreme Court questioned the Centre on why reports of the court-appointed Technical Experts Committee (TEC) on the biosafety of genetically modified (GM) crops were not investigated by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC).
·Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC): The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is the statutory committee constituted under the “Rules for the Manufacture, Use/Import/Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells (Rules, 1989)” framed under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Functions - GEAC is responsible for the approval of activities involving large-scale use of hazardous living microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from an environmental perspective. Clearance of GEAC is mandatory for the environmental release of GM crops.
Composition - GEAC is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&CC and co-chaired by a representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). Presently, it has 24 members and meets every month to review the applications in the areas indicated above.
·Genetically Modified (GM) Plants: GM plants are plants that have undergone intentional alteration of their genetic material through genetic engineering techniques. These modifications are carried out to introduce specific traits or characteristics that may not naturally occur within the plant’s genome. Example-
Bt Cotton – Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton is engineered to produce a protein from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis that is toxic to certain insect pests. The bacteria release specialized proteins referred to as “cry proteins,” which exhibit toxicity towards insects. This trait reduces the need for chemical insecticides and helps protect the cotton crop from damage.
Golden Rice - Golden rice is modified to produce higher levels of beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A. This modification aims to address vitamin A deficiency, a major public health concern in many developing countries.
·Way Forward: Genetically modified crops hold promise for addressing some of India’s most pressing agricultural challenges, including food security, climate resilience, and farm incomes. However, their adoption must be carefully managed to avoid potential environmental and socio-economic risks. As India moves forward with its policy on GM crops, it must strike a balance between innovation and caution, ensuring that the benefits of biotechnology are realized while safeguarding public and environmental health.
