The Hindu Business Line : Bt cotton allowed in some States, not in AP

THE Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) on Tuesday renewed its permission for Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) to market its three varieties of Bt Cotton hybrids - MECH-12Bt, MECH-162Bt and MECH 184Bt - containing Cry 1 Ac Gene for the Central Zone (consisting of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra) for another two years.

The GEAC, however, did take a decision not to renew the permission for Mahyco to market Bt Cotton seeds in Andhra Pradesh. "The permission has not been renewed for any of the three hybrids for Andhra Pradesh," said official sources.

For the other southern States of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the GEAC has approved two of the Bt Cotton hybrids (MECH-162Bt and MECH 184Bt). However, it has barred commercialisation of MECH 12 Bt for Tamil Nadu and Karnataka as well. This was informed by the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment and Forests. "The decision was taken based on reports received from the State Governments," he added.

The GEAC had allowed commercialisation of the genetically modified (GM) hybrids — which incorporate the cry1Ac gene derived from the soil bacteria, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) — in the Central and South zones for three seasons beginning 2002. The meeting on Tuesday was slated to consider giving renewal of permission to Mahyco to market the hybrids during the ensuing season as well.

For the last two months, GEAC had deferred its decision on renewal of Bt Cotton following protests by civil society groups including Greenpeace and Gene Campaign. It had, however, permitted commercial marketing of the Bt Cotton seeds in the North Zone.

The GEAC has also permitted commercialisation of Rasi's two hybrids of Bt Cotton for certain States. They include RCH 144 Bt for Central Zone that include Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh and RCH 20 Bt for Southern Zone that include Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

On commercialisation of many other varieties of Bt Cotton, GEAC is holding "final level internal discussions — within its different member organisations," said officials. Earlier, the regulatory body had deferred its decision stating that it had not received complete reports from the State governments, particularly with concerning claims made by Mahyco and Monsanto (the technology provider) on their efficacy against the American bollworm pest vis-a-vis actual field-level performance.

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