Scientists don’t want more tests,back ‘limited release’

The majority of about 25 scientists present at Wednesday’s meeting,including some members of GEAC,agreed that the safety of Bt gene in brinjal had been established by the tests that had already been done and that more time must not be lost in conducting more tests and field trials. Some of them were of the opinion that in case additional tests are indeed to be done,then they should be done in parallel with a limited release of the crop for cultivation,some scientists who were present at the meeting said.

“The idea is that further delays must be avoided. Every test that needed to be done has already been done. But the controversy surrounding Bt brinjal appears to have left some lingering doubt among the public about the safety of this crop. If carrying out more tests,as suggested by some,is the only way to address these concerns,then let these tests be done in parallel with a limited release,” said a scientist,who did not wish to be named. However,Dr P M Bhargava,who has been demanding further tests,mainly relating to the long-term impacts of Bt brinjal on human health,said there was nothing such as a ‘limited release’.

“A limited release is just not possible. How is it to be controlled? How do you pull it back if something goes wrong? People are talking about a regulatory supervision? But who is going to act as the regulator? In any case,the minister (Jairam) had ruled out a limited release in his order,” Bhargava said.

The experts who attended the meeting will now send their opinion in writing to the GEAC chairman who is likely to call another such meeting in the next couple of months.