Greenpeace campaigners discuss the BRAI bill
The government declared a moratorium on Bt brinjal but the proposed Biotechnology Regulatory Authority Bill (BRAI) 2009, proposes drastic changes in the regulatory system, which takes away the right to say no to GM foods.
The poll, conducted by an independent market research company GfK Mode the gives a much needed perspective on citizens' views on GM foods. 5599 citizens across various socio-economic levels, age, literacy levels and income groups in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Guwahati and Indore were interviewed for the poll.
Results of the poll:
- Awareness on GM foods is low as compared to other environment or public issues. About 33 per cent of the people have heard about either Bt brinjal or GM foods. Only 27 per cent say they understand what genetically modified foods are.
- Most importantly, only 21 per cent women know about GM foods even though they are the decision makers on food issues in households.
- Lower income groups also know very little about GM foods or Bt brinjal.
- Irrespective of their awareness or knowledge levels, a majority (69 per cent) want packaged food to declare through labeling whether or not it contains genetically modified organisms. 61 per cent people want labeling on unpackaged foods as well.
- A majority of the respondents, almost 78 per cent, stated that they have the right to information on all aspects of GM crops before the Government makes irreversible decisions on GM foods.
- Companies which produce GM foods are not trusted by a majority of the people. Only 36 per cent people trust them. A majority, 80 per cent, preferred an independent, impartial government agency to test or certify GM foods.
- An overwhelming 89 per cent citizens believe that they have the right to protest or reject government decisions related to the commercialisation of genetically modified foods. This was regardless of their stance on the issue.
The proposed BRAI bill 2009[i], which aims to replace the existing Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), carries with it the same flawed regulatory regime. The bill establishes a bureaucratic decision making system, and prevents intervention of elected representatives or other ministries, even state governments, violating their constitutional rights over the approval of GM crops.
Additionally, BRAI has the authority to supersede information request under the Right to Information Act, 2005.
The bill also proposes a section that imposes penalties like imprisonment and fine of upto Rs two lakh for persons misleading public on GM crops without scientific proof. Civil society organisations, including National Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI), have termed it as a blatant subversion of the fundamental rights of freedom of speech and expression.
The authority will be under the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Department of Biotechnology which is a clear conflict of interest. Department of Biotechnology has a mandate to promote and fund research on GM crops and will also help in establishing the BRAI. The bill might be tabled in the present session of the parliament by Minister Prithviraj Chavan.
"The poll gives us a clear indication of what has been seen in the public consultations on Bt Brinjal. We need an impartial and independent agency which is democratic and transparent, and has a mandate to put people's health, biosafety, food security and environment before corporate interests. We don't want it to be a single window clearance system for GM crops. It should promote ecological farming solutions which are more reliable than the unpredictable, unsafe, and corporate driven technologies like GM crops. The BRAI bill draft should be immediately withdrawn" said Jai Krishna, Campaigner, Greenpeace India while releasing the report.
He further stated that "While there is so much of public resentment on GM crops the Indian government has been going ahead and giving permissions to open field experiments of various GM crops including GM rice which could contaminate our traditional crops and thereby threaten our food safety and environment."
Greenpeace Demands
· The BRAI bill draft should be immediately withdrawn.
· An immediate ban on all field trials of GM crops happening across the country.
· Scientific research to focus on ecological alternatives, to identify agro-ecological practices that ensure future food security to the country and livelihood security to our farmers and farm labourers.
The opinion poll has been submitted to the Prime minister's office and to Minister of Science and technology Prithiviraj Chavan.
To download this press release and the opinion poll please go to http://www.greenpeace.org/india/press/reports/bt-brinjal-opinion-poll
For further information, contact
Jai Krishna, Sustainable Agriculture Campaigner, Greenpeace, +91 98455 91992 
Shachi Chaturvedi, Senior Media Officer, Greenpeace, +91 9818750007, 
Seema Javed, Senior Media Officer, Greenpeace, +91 99100 59765, 
Notes to Editor
[i] Though the official version of the BRAI 2009 bill is unavailable, several news articles have appeared on the concerning clauses of the bill.