Greenpeace asks Sharad Pawar to prevent GM Brinjal approval

New Delhi, June 16 (UNI) After three days of sustained pressure, union Agriculture and Food Minister Sharad Pawar met Greenpeace activists at his residence this morning and assured he would take into account the concerns raised by the NGO in regard to GM's genetically engineered brinjal.

He, however, would not influence the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) in the upcoming decision on whether to allow large scale field trials of GM brinjal next month.

Greenpeace presented to the minister a report ''Unpredictable, Irreversible and Unnatural'' on genetic engineering (GE) accidents and stressed the need for his urgent intervention in the matter.

''The minister must assure the nation that he represents the interests of millions of consumers and small farmers at the GEAC and will take a stand against the approval of GM brinjal next month,'' said Mr Rajesh Krishnan, Greenpeace, GE Free India campaigner.

A copy of the report was earlier presented to Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss at his office yesterday.

The report while highlighting GE accidents established that the unpredictable, irreversible and unnatural characters of GMOs made them very risky. It suggested that the Precautionary Principle be invoked very strictly in the case of GMOs.

In November 2005, scientists at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, (CSIRO) in Australia abandoned years of research and field trials on GM peas when it showed inflammation of lungs and susceptibility to more allergens on mice.

Two 'brinjals' today sought an audience with Mr Pawar, to alert him of the potential dangers of allowing large-scale field trials of GM brinjal starting next month. Each 'brinjal' wore an urgent message ''Minister Pawar, Don't genetically modify brinjals!'' The 'brinjals' drew attention to the two 'sheep' and 'cows' that staged a die-in at Mr Pawar's door to remind the minister that urgent issues of public health and safety were pending to be resolved before any approval for GM brinjal could be brought up.

Activists dressed as 'cow' and 'sheep' had earlier presented a memorandum at the Minister's office in Krishi Bhawan.

''No tests have been done anywhere in the world to conclusively prove the safety of GM brinjal for human consumption. If approved, Indians will be the first people in the world forced to eat a GM vegetable, the safety of which cannot be guaranteed,'' said Krishnan.

The GEAC had provided only 15 days for the citizens to debate and question the so-called biosafety studies, which was essentially Mahyco-Monsanto's data. ''Greenpeace demands that there must be no approval for GM brinjal until the government assess the health impacts of GM crops by conducting an exhaustive long term health impact study on various crops for both food and feed,'' he added.

UNI IP MSJ DS1613