NEW DELHI: Transgenic Bt brinjal will become India's first genetically modified food crop if it is cleared by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) of the Union Environment and Forests Ministry.

The committee will soon place on its web site biosafety data of the crop, developed by Mahyco, under the sub-heading `GEAC clearance shortly' for inviting public response.

Mayhco has produced transgenic brinjal plants with Cry 1Ac gene from Bacillus thuringensis, tolerant to fruit and shoot borer, one of the major pests that attack the crop throughout its life cycle.

The application of transgenic brinjal plants for large-scale trials and seed production of four hybrids — MHB-4 Bt, MHB-9 Bt, MHB-80 Bt and MHBJ-99 Bt containing Cry 1 Ac gene — during the 2006 kharif season is under consideration by the committee.

Sub-committee on Bt cotton

The panel has constituted a sub-committee on Bt cotton and related issues under C. D. Mayee, Chairman, Agricultural Scientist Recruitment Board and co-chair, GEAC, to rationalise the regulatory procedure and facilitate introduction of new technology to make cheaper options available to farmers.

The GEAC also approved the commercial release of transgenic Bt cotton hybrids: eight in the north zone, 12 in the central zone and 16 in the south.

At a meeting earlier this month, it approved large-scale trials of 16 hybrids containing Cry 1 Ac in the north, 20 hybrids containing Cry 1 Ac in the central zone and 25 hybrids containing Cry 1 Ac in the south.

The GEAC has approved the import and conduct of phase II clinical trials with ChimeriVaxTM - JE (Japanese encephalitis vaccine) from the U.S. on children.

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