Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee

Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee

Subject: Science and Technology

Context:  Recent interministry communication points to strong indication that a decision is likely to be made soon on import of Soyabean meal for meeting the current feed shortage in the country.

Concept:

• Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is the apex body that allows for commercial release of GM crops.
• It had allowed the commercial release of Bt cotton in 2002. At present, more than 95 per cent of the country’s cotton areas come under Bt cotton.
• Use of the unapproved GM variant can attract a jail term of 5 years and fine of Rs 1 lakh under the Environmental Protection Act, 1989.
• Import of any GM material is governed by the Environment Protection Act 1985. GM import proposals are examined by Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under the Environment Ministry for making a recommendation to either accept or reject the proposal. Although GEAC is supposed to meet every month Legal provisions

GEAC

• The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) functions in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
• It 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 committee is also responsible for appraisal of proposals relating to release of genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products into the environment including experimental field trials.
• GEAC is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF & CC and co-chaired by a representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). Presently, it has 24 members and meets every month to review the applications in the areas indicated above.

Recent Imports

• In recent years, India has been importing roughly 5 lakh tonnes of oilmeals and about 3 lakh tonnes of oilseeds from non-GM origins. Also, for the last 15 years, India has been consuming cottonseed meal processed out of GM cottonseed variety, popularly called Bt Cotton, with no adverse effects scientifically recorded.

Soyabean

• Soyabean is one of the fastest growing crops in India. Soyabean is grown as a Kharif Crop in India.
• Soyabean is an oilseed produced for extracting edible oils.
• Soyabean is mostly grown in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. These two states together produce about 90 per cent of total output of soyabean in the country
• Feed shortage Soyabean meal is a key feed material for fish, shrimp, cattle, dairy and poultry farmers. Shortage in feed availability has resuled in a surge in soymeal prices that is hurting livestock farmers, the industry
• In the US, soymeal is available at around $550 a tonne, while domestic prices in India are more than twice the rate.