ICAR will be responsible for evaluating, approving and monitoring Bt cotton hybrids along with confirming the presence of approved gene. The organization has also given its consent for the same.

The volume of applications for releasing hybrids shot up in GEAC after 2005 and thus, a sub-committee was set up to review Bt cotton under chairman CD Mayee, said media reports citing sources.

A recommendation was then made to set up an Event-based Approval Mechanism (EBAM) for releasing Bt cotton hybrids. The committee was being services by the DBT standing committee until now.

The approval for the first Bt cotton crop was given in April 2002 after reviewing its biosafety and carrying out field trials. (KD)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India