This meeting of scientists was suggested by Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh in his February 9, 2010 order putting an indefinite hold on the release of Bt brinjal for cultivation, even after the top regulatory authority, Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), had given its go-ahead.
The majority of about 25 scientists present at Wednesday's meeting, including some members of GEAC, agreed that the safety of Bt gene in brinjal had been established by the tests that had already been done and that more time must not be lost in conducting more tests and field trials. Some of them were of the opinion that in case additional tests are indeed to be done, then they should be done in parallel with a limited release of the crop for cultivation, some scientists who were present at the meeting said. Read the full report here.
Source: Ravish Tiwari, Amitabh Sinha, Indian Express, New Delhi.
