NOTICE ISSUED

The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Union government on a public interest litigation challenging the permission given for field trials of Monsanto's genetically modified Bollgard cotton in India and seeking a stay on all ongoing field trials. The rules for the manufacture, use, import, export and storage of hazardous micro-organisms/genetically engineered organisms or cells, promulgated by the Union Government in December 1989, govern all activity in India, including research, involving genetically modified organisms (GMOs). These rules specify the establishment of two committees, the Review Committee for Genetic Manipulation under the Department of Biotechnology and the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee under the Department of Environment, Forests and Wildlife.