New Delhi: A Renuka Chowdhury-led parliament panel is likely to review the clearances received by genetically-modified (GM) mustard, from central biotech regulator GEAC, for commercial use.
A Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) had last week recommended GM mustard for commercial cultivation. However, Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave's approval is still awaited.
Also, Chowdhury has said the environment minister should wait for the committee's report before taking any decision in the matter.
The committee has deliberated upon this subject several times and is likely to meet this month to review the clearance given by the GEAC for GM mustard's commercial cultivation, source added.
Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP), Delhi University South Campus, had submitted an application to the GEAC for the environmental release of GM mustard (brassica juncea) hybrid DMH-11.
The environment ministry had received over 700 comments from various stakeholders, including farmers and researchers, on the Assessment of Food and Environmental Safety (AFES) report on GM mustard which it had earlier posted on the ministry website.
The application was submitted in 2015 after which several rounds of meeting were held by the GEAC. The sub-committee also convened meetings with experts.
GM mustard is the second genetically modified food crop after Bt Brinjal that has obtained all required regulatory approvals and reached the Environment Minister's table for clearance.
Former environment minister Jairam Ramesh had refused clearance to Bt Brinjal and put an indefinite moratorium on the decision.
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