Fwd : Hazards of GM Crops

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---------- Forwarded message ----------Bharatiya Krishak Samaj <bharatiyakrishaksamajJun 9, 2009 6:15 PMHazards of GM Food Cropsjairam

BHARATIYA KRISHAK SAMAJ (Indian Farmers' Organisation) - Hide quoted text

- June 9, 2009 To,Shree Jairam RameshUnion Minister of State for Environment & Forests(Independent charge)New Delhi Dear Shree Jairam Ramesh jee, First of all India's oldest and largest farmers' organisation, Bharatiya Krishak Samaj would like to congratulate you for holding the reins of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. We very much appreciate your views on clearance of genetically modified (GM) food crops, which indeed need adequate health and environmental

safety tests and as well as bio-safety tests by independent agencies and scientists before they are finally released for commercial use and consumption. There are ample studies done worldwide by independent scientists which expose health and environmental hazards associated with GM crops. Bharatiya Krishak Samaj have a collection of some such studies. The US seed multinational, Monsanto and its Indian partner, Mahyco are lobbying hard to push the commercialisation of Bt brinjal which is currently under field trials. Also a number of GM food crops including Bt rice, Bt okra, GM potato, Bt cabbage etc have been developed and are at different stages of trials. We hope, Sir, you will definitely take some pains to stop the nefarious activities of seed companies in pushing this hazardous agenda. We also hope that you would also instruct the public sector agencies and universities in the country to stop encouraging GM

crops. The introduction of GM food crops is likely to damage our export prospects, particularly in the European market which is largely GM-free. Russia once sought clarification from India whether GM food crops were grown in the country and had detained India's rice consignments. Sir, you as a former Minister of State for Commerce, are well aware of this situation Another thing we want to bring to your kind notice is that in absence of any stringent regulation there is a free entry of hazardous GM food in this country. It is unfortunate to know that Nodal Agencies like Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), a Retgulatory Authrotiy has given NOC to Doritos corn chips, a processed food product, without directing any laboratory test, relying on a written confirmation given by the importer that the product did not contain GM corn. That the NOC given by GEAC to said GM Food against the detainment by

the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) at Nhava Sheva Port in Mumbai is an apparent act of undue favor extended by GEAC to the importer / exporter of GM Food and apparent abuse of power for not invtiing scientific result of independant test laboratory to prove the credibility of said food item. India has already made a dumping ground of adulterated , expiry food products , medicines, drugs by said Regulatory Authrotiies, in as much as, the people manning these authroties are corrupt, inhuman and moreover, are dancing at the tune of the multinational companies. We hope, Sir, you would kindly take some pains to address these concerns in the interests of the people Yours truely Dr KRISHAN BIR CHAUDHARYPresidentBharatiya Krishak SamajNew Delhi

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