53 New Bt Cotton Hybrids Commercially Approved in India

The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee of India (GEAC) approved on May 11 53 new varieties of Bt cotton hybrids for commercial sale in India in 2007. Effectively 49 new hybrids have been cleared and two hybrids of Mahyco have been accorded renewal of permission for commercial release. In 2006, 62 Bt cotton hybrids were available to farmers for planting in three different cotton growing zones. With these new approvals, farmers will have choice to select among 111 Bt cotton hybrids in India in 2007 season. The approval of new hybrids were granted in the light of the Supreme Court recent order, which accorded approval for commercial release of Bt cotton hybrids expressing approved gene events MON 531 event, MON 15985, Event-1 and GFM event.

Event-wise approval of new Bt cotton hybrids in 2007

For the decision of 76th meeting of the GEAC please visit: http://www.envfor.nic.in/divisions/csurv/geac/geac-may-76.pdf. For more information contact: b.choudhary@isaaa.org