Curb on Bt brinjal may not last long

While the moratorium on the commercial introduction of Bt brinjal will continue for now, it may not last indefinitely. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who addressed the issue among his combative ministerial colleagues this evening, is said to have asked for a swift assessment of all scientific and safety issues relating to the genetically-modified (GM) variety of the vegetable.

The government will also fast-track the move to set up a National Biotechnology Regulatory Authority.

Today's meeting was called by the PM following a letter from Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, asking for his intervention on introducing GM food crops, which have been delayed following Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh's decision to put on hold the commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal.

Besides Pawar and Ramesh, the meeting was attended by Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal and Science and Technology Minister Prithviraj Chavan.

Sources said the PM expressed concerns over issues of public safety and said they needed to be looked at carefully. At the same time, he is said to have indicated that the period of moratorium should not continue forever. The issues need to be resolved in a finite time frame and the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee, which cleared the commercial release of Bt brinjal last year, should move into it quickly.

Ramesh had not put any time-frame for the moratorium. In fact, he had suggested it would last an indefinite period until all safety tests were done at an independent testing laboratory.

When asked specifically on how long the moratorium would last, he shot back, saying, "what is the hurry" and that the issue did not affect India's food security.

A statement this evening from the Prime Minister's Office said: "The Prime Minister held a consultation with his senior ministerial colleagues to discuss the role of biotechnology in food security. It was agreed that biotechnology is an important option for higher agricultural productivity and ensuring food security. At the same time, we must ensure that it has no adverse effects on human and animal health and biodiversity."

The proposed National Biotechnology Regulatory Authority, it said, would "inspire confidence and stimulate public and private investment in biotechnology".

Sources said all other ministerial colleagues of Ramesh expressed their dissent on his view on GM food. The science and technology minister asked for the Bill for setting up the regulatory authority to be moved this Parliament session.

The PM is also learnt to have called for private funding in the area, along with public investments. This seems to be more in reply to Ramesh's earlier statements favouring the public sector for developing GM seed technology.