After a controversial entry into cotton, international corporations promoting Genetically Modified crops are trying to expand their reach into food. The promised benefits would appear compelling in an era of food shortages and low productivity, but the uncertainty about their wider impact on human health and the environment underscores the need for strong biosafety regulations. Progress in strengthening biosafety has been slow. That has not, however, prevented the unregula ted spread of GM crops.

Civil society organisations working on the food security issues here have expressed concern over what they describe as lack of public participation in policy-making on bio-safety in India in the run-up to the international conference of the signatories to the Cartagena Protocol on Bio-safety to be held in Bonn, Germany, from May 12 to 16.

Investigation into jatropha germplasm nears completion

The issue of living modified organisms (lmos) figured prominently at a recent meeting of the countries signatory to the Cartagena Protocol for Biosafety. The meeting took 18 decisions on requirements for handling, transport and identification of lmos during trans-boundary movements. Risk assessment and liability were among other concerns addressed.

GM regulators consult NGOs, seed companies on biosafety