Safeguard Agrarian Sector and Rich Biodiversity

Urgent Appeal Updates...

13 October 2010

While the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill is still pending, other threats undermining the regulation of agrarian sector are rising.

The amendment of the Seed (Control) Order 1983, was to be tabled in July 2010. Although the move was ceased after Andhra Congress leaders met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia to press for more changes in the Bill, it has implied that legal framework could be misused as tools to monopolize the agrarian sector.

The amendment of the Seed (Control) Order 1983 proposed regulation of the quality of seeds for sale, import and export but left alone the pricing of seeds. It also proposed that the state governments would have no authority on registration, price controls and regulation on seeds used by farmers within their state area.

Experts are concerned that the Bill would be easily abused by the vested-interest groups and the seed companies, such as Mahyco, Monsanto and Proagro. If only a few kinds of seeds are qualified under the proposed Bill, the seed companies can monopolize the market easily. Even worse, there will be no price control according the proposed Bill.

To raise the awareness on the BRAI Bill which threatened the freedom of expression and would undermine the safeguard on food safety, ACPP has issued UA100324(4) in October 2010.

Sources: Times of India, India Express

10 June 2010

Soon after the moratorium on introduction of Bt Brinjal was announced in February 2010, the Ministry of Science and Technology, proposed the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill, which if passed, will undermine civilians’ freedom to obtain the information on genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The proposed Bill would violate civilians’ constitutional rights guaranteed by the Right to Information Act 2005, as anyone who criticizes GMOs will be in danger of imprisonment.

According to a public survey conducted by an independent market research agency, GfK Mode, 89% of the interviewees said that they had the right to protest or reject government's decision on GM foods. Moreover, 80% of them demanded an impartial, independent government agency to test and certify GM crops and 78% wanted all information on GM food prior to the approval of GM crops.

Regarding Bt Brinjal, although the Minister of Environment and Forest (MoEF), Jairam Ramesh has deferred introduction of Bt brinjal indefinitely until “independent tests prove it safe”, the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) is trying other ways to push the introduction forward. Soon after GEAC took up the issue on 12 May 2010, its co-chairperson, Arjula Reddy, has ruled out the possibility of additional safety tests on Bt Brinjal, saying “there is no question of any decision on additional tests unless made mandatory by the country’s testing protocol.” Instead, GEAC decided to prepare a background paper on concerns over food safety of Bt Brinjal. A panel with 5-6 independent scientists will be formed to look into the concerns and question their scientific validity.

To avert any measures which may degrade the standard of GMO regulation, such as the BRAI Bill, ACPP issued UA100324(4) on 24 March 2010.

Sources: Hindustan Times, the Indian, Green Peace