Environment ministry would like to introduce GM food like the Bt Brinjal in India but the health minister, Anbumani Ramadoss has promised to oppose. Ramadoss said on Tuesday, “All GM food must undergo tests in Indian conditions before they are allowed into Indian markets. The Bt Brinjal has not been tested in India. I am writing both to the PM and the agriculture minister about this.”

Ramadoss promised to resist the entry of GM foods for common use in a PMK organized meeting with hundreds of farmers at Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu last week. He said: “The PMK has always opposed GM seeds. As a minister of PMK and as union health minister, I will continue to oppose GM seeds.”

Six leading countries, India is one of them, are conducting the field trials of GM crops. According to the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), Bt Brinjals are in the final stage of approval under the ministry of environment. Director of GEAC, BS Parashera said: “All the tests for GM crops in India are conducted under controlled supervision. If we are convinced by the tests, it may be introduced in a year's time.”

Besides brinjal, other GM crops, two dozen varieties of rice, tomatoes, potatoes, sugarcane, soy and okra are also awaiting the approval. Parashera said that all these GM crops were in the testing stage. According to a study published on November 12, the Australian government identified series health threats from   genetically engineered (GE) crops. Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, all European Union countries and many African countries have either banned the entry of GM foods or imposed strict restrictions on their commercial use.