India's GEAC Approves Field Trials of GM Cotton and Maize

The confined field trials of genetically modified (GM) herbicide tolerant cotton and maize in India have been approved by the states of Haryana and Karnataka and by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).

Following receipt of the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Governments of Haryana and Karnataka, the GEAC cleared the proposals submitted by Rallis India Limited to conduct BRL-1 (1st and 2nd year) field trials of two GM stacked cotton (MLS2154 x MLS4301x MLS2531 and MLS2154 x MLS4301) to evaluate resistance against Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera litura and tolerance to glyphosate, and GM stacked maize MLS10101 x MLS13621 to evaluate resistance against S. frugiperda and tolerance to glyphosate during 2022-23 and 2023-24 at two trial locations amongst the proposed sites, namely, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka; University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka; and Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana per year was recommended by the committee subject to a number of conditions.

The Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) may issue the permit letters and monitor confined field trials to ensure compliance with prescribed terms and conditions.

For more details, download and read the agenda items in the minutes of the 145th meeting of GEAC on the GEAC website.