The Supreme Court (SC) has admitted a public interest litigation (PIL) by the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology (RFSTE) challenging the first major open trials of genetically-engineered BT cotton in nine states in India. The petition sought the court's intervention to check "the violation of the environmental regulations created for genetically-modified organisms (GMO) and strengthening biosafety regulations in the country.' The present law on biosafety in India is contained in the Rules for the manufacture, use, import, export and storage of hazardous micro-organisms, genetically-engineered organisms and cells, 1989, issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the petition said.