Ramesh had imposed moratorium on commercial release of BT Brinjal approved by the Genetically Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) citing public apprehensions over its safety in January 2010. He then asked GEAC, to stipulate more safeguards to remove public apprehensions.
The regulator, GEAC, appointed 16 member expert panel will be meeting for the first time to discuss the new safeguards before release of BT Brinjal commercially.
The expert panel is expected to conduct deliberations on safety aspects of Bt Brinjal, in particular, and GM food crops, in general, at the meeting.
Some national and international literature has been generated on safety of GM food and recently a Planning Commission committee has deliberated on future of GM food crops in India. The panel's committee had recommended lifting of moratorium on BT Brinjal which the government has yet not accepted. Read the full report here.
Source: Chetan Chauhan, Hindustan Times, New Delhi.
