But it has been left to the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) under Ramesh to decide how long the moratorium should be in place, sources told Deccan Herald.
Singh’s message to his warring colleagues—Ramesh, agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, science and technology minister Prithviraj Chavan and his predecessor and current human resource development minister Kapil Sibal — was loud and clear.
Notwithstanding the hiccups, India stands committed to genetically modified crops as a means of achieving food security. But at the same time, GM crop's adverse effects, if there are any, on human and animal health as well as in ruining the biodiversity has to be thoroughly assessed before the crops come to the market.
The Prime Minister asked Ramesh and Chavan to thrash out their differences so that the government speak in one voice on GM issues rather than ministers airing their individual opinion publicly creating confusion among the public.
Singh made it clear that the withdrawal of moratorium could be considered after all the safety tests are done and an appropriate regulatory system is in place.
The Prime Minister’s decision is unlikely to please the union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar who was aggressively pushing Bt brinjal and shoot off a six-page letter arguing quick introduction of GM crops to ensure food security.
Three of India’s leading brinjal producing states, West Bengal, Orissa and Bihar, have opposed introduction of Bt Brinjal at this point. Objections have come from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh as well.
But Ramesh said some of the GM crops pending before GEAC--lady’s finger, cauliflower, tomato and cabbage--are not linked to food security, which can only be linked to the four varieties of GM rice which are under development.
These GM rice varieties will take a minimum of three years to come to the pre - commercialisation stage.
Earlier in the day, Ramesh said that on Bt brinjal issue, he was alone in the Cabinet and receiving support only from the prime minister.
To inspire public confidence on the regulatory system, the government will bring in a bill to set up a National Biotechnology Regulatory Authority.
Once formed, it will subsume GEAC and other regulatory bodies and have a much more overarching role in regulating GM crops.
However, Ramesh said the NBRA bill was hanging in balance for six years because it had many flaws and the department of biotechnology should redraft some of its key chapters to rectify those lacunae.