GM Mustard
Context:
- Recently, the Supreme Court questioned the government on whether the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) had considered the reports of the courtappointed Technical Experts Committee (TEC) on the biosafety of transgenic mustard hybrid DMH11 before approving it for environmental release.
About DMH-11:
- Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 also known as DMH – 11, is a genetically modified hybrid variety of the mustard species.
- It was developed with the aim of reducing India’s demand for edible oil imports.
- DMH – 11 was created through transgenic technology and primarily involving the Bar, Barnaseand Barstar gene system.
- The Barnase gene confers male sterility, while the Barstar gene is responsible for DMH – 11’s ability to produce fertile seeds.
About Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC):
- It is India’s apex biotechnology regulatory body.
- The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is the statutory committee and functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
- It is constituted under the “Rules for the Manufacture, Use/Import/Export and Storage of Hazardous Micro Organisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells (Rules, 1989)” framed under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- As per Rules, 1989, the body is responsible for appraisal of activities involving large scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle.
- The GEAC is also responsible for appraisal of proposals relating to release of genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products into the enviornment including experimental field trials.
- The committee is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&CC and co-chaired by a representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
- It is important to note that clearance of Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is mandatory for the environmental release of Genetically Modified (GM) crops.
