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Moderated conference on GMOs in the pipeline, hosted by the FAO Biotechnology Forum in 2012

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Biotech-Mod2 <[log in to unmask]>
Mon, 19 Nov 2012 15:44:01 +0100
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This is from Dr Suman Sahai, geneticist and currently chair of the Indian research and advocacy organisation Gene Campaign (www.genecampaign.org). 

Apart from all the discussions on the problems with biosafety testing of Bt brinjal, there are other regulatory problems associated with its release.

Bt brinjal was being promoted in India but there is no system in place for food labelling. A law and a system for the labelling of GE food must precede the introduction of genetically engineered (GE) foods. India's position in the Codex Alimentarius is in support of mandatory labelling. Labeling of GE food has to be informative and make sense to ordinary people. No process of labelling will  make any sense unless the consumer understands the technology and the risks associated with it. Informed consumer choice is a right. Introducing Bt brinjal without a system of mandatory labelling in place violates this right. How will GE food be labelled in a country where food is not sold only in supermarkets? Labeling will require clear segregation of Bt brinjal and non-Bt brinjal at all stages from the field to the market. There are no provisions for this to be done.

There is no liability law in India. In the event of contamination of non-Bt brinjal with Bt brinjal, there is no process of recall. Who will be liable to producers of organic brinjal? In case of adverse health impact from eating a GE food, it would not be possible to fix liability to claim compensation. There are no provisions for monitoring the long term impact of GE foods on the health of consumers.

Because pollen flow is inevitable even in brinjal which is usually self-pollinating, organic farming of brinjals would be put at risk with Bt brinjals planted in the vicinity. It would be difficult to ensure the purity of native brinjal germplasm, an issue of concern since India is the center of origin of brinjal.

The plant family (Solanacae) to which brinjal (and nightshade, dhatura and other poisonous plants) belong, has several natural toxins. Specific and sensitive tests need to be developed and conducted to detect the creation of new toxins or the resurfacing of old ones. This is a distinct possibility in a toxin rich botanical family. None of these tests have either been developed or conducted.

Dr Suman Sahai
Gene Campaign
Sainik Farms, Lane W-15-C/2 ( J-235/A)
Khanpur
New Delhi - 110 062
India
e-mail: mail (at) genecampaign.org

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