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India : GEAC approves MLRT strip trials of several Bt cotton
June 23, 2007 |  |
The 78th meeting of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) approved Multi Location Research Trials (MLRT) of several Bt cotton. The food crops rice, okra, corn, brinjal and potato could not get approval.
Permission to conduct MLRT of Bt cotton expressing approved gene/events have been approved. This includes BG I cotton hybrids, BG II cotton hybrid, cry1Ac gene, 3 intra – hirsutum hybrids, 2 inter-specific hybrids, 3 inter-specific hybrids, 5 Bt cotton hybrids, Bollgard cotton hybrids has been given.
The MLRT will be taken in central and south zones at various locations. The Committee also approved the proposal for strip trials of Bt cotton expressing approved gene/events.
This will cover 35 Bt cotton hybrids, 115 transgenic Bt cotton hybrids, 29 intra-specific Bt cotton hybrids and others will be included. Experimental seed production of Bt cotton expressing approved gene/events has also been given approval.
MLRT of GM food crops were not given approval. Companies require to submit validated protocol for detection of 0.01 per cent level contamination. Subject to this submission they will get approval later on.
This include six transgenic Bt rice hybrids, 3 transgenic Bt Okra hybrids, YieldGuard corn parental lines, Roundup Ready Corn hybrid, Bt brinjal, 8 cotton hybrids, flex cotton hybrids etc.
The Large Scale Field Trials (LSFT) of Bt cotton expressing new gene/events did not get approval because they did not complete full bio-safety studies. This include cotton hybrids expressing Cry1C gene and seed production of cotton hybrids.
The Committee has approved the import of Soybean oil obtained from round-up ready Soybean by M/s. Solvent Extractors’ Association of India. | | | | Press Information Bureau Government of India |  |
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