New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) not to give approvals to genetically modified (GM) products until further orders.
A three-judge bench gave the direction on a public interest litigation filed by Aruna Rodrigues and three others seeking a ban on the release of GM organisms/seeds having the potential of causing major health hazards.
Lawyer Prashant Bhushan alleged that the government policy was to give speedy clearance to genetically modified organisms even before putting in place a mechanism to test their bio-safety value. He pleaded for a stay against grant of fresh approvals and of all field trials on genetically modified crops.
In its brief order, the bench said "we are not inclined to direct stoppage of all field trials at this stage without the stand of the respondents. At the same time we deem it appropriate to direct GEAC to withhold the approvals till further directions are issued on hearing all concerned. The government would also consider associating independent experts in the field in the GEAC."
It listed the matter after two weeks.
The petitioners said the use of technology of genetic engineering and release of GM organisms into the environment would require application of precautionary principle, which mandated that every possible precaution must be taken to ensure that no harmful effects are caused to human and animal health and environment.
They said genetic engineering if allowed to proceed unchecked would change the molecular structure of the world's food.
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