SC notice to Centre on exemption given to GM foods

A notification issued by the Union Government exempting Genetically Modified...

A notification issued by the Union Government exempting Genetically Modified (GM) foods from the mandatory approval of Genetic Engineering Approval Committee was challenged before the Supreme Court on Friday.

Perusing a petition filed by eminent environmentalist Vandana Shiva, who questioned the said exemption, a Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendran granted four weeks time to the Centre to file its reply.

As per the impugned notification, issued by the Government on August 23, 2007, the manufacture, use, import, export and storage of GM foods would be allowed without the compulsory approval of Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), the appellate authority formed under the Rules of the Environmental Protection Act.

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Senior advocate Pinki Anand, appearing for the petitioner, pointed out how the notification stands opposed to the objectives of the Environmental Protection Act, 1986. “The net effect of the notification is that the GM foods/substances which have been scientifically proven to pose serious health hazards to the public will be permitted in the country without even seeking minimum mandatory approval by the GEAC,” she argued.

The petitioner claimed that there is no other regulatory or legal framework to assess, evaluate and regulate GM food/ substances and their effects on human health.