The Bt brinjal seed stock developed in the country should be deposited with the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources to prevent any potential leakage or contamination during the moratorium on its commercial release, the government has told developers.
The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee made this decision during its meeting on February 9, Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. He was answering a question on whether the government is considering a proposal to introduce a liability clause to make crop developer responsible for any leakage. He said there was no such proposal as the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, provides for punitive action in case of non-compliance or violation of its statutory provisions.
Activists raised concerns about illegal leakage or contamination of the native brinjal varieties, especially in the light of the experience of Bt cotton, varieties of which were planted by farmers even before approval was granted.
