Feature story - March 7, 2005
NEW DELHI, India — The overwhelming evidence on the failure of Bt cotton in Andhra Pradesh and gross regulatory failure of Bt Cotton across the country has forced the GEAC not to renew Monsanto’s permission for Mech- 12, Mech- 162 and Mech –184 varieties introduced in 2002. This decision has been deferred for review to the 13th of April.
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However, the inconsistency of their decision is highlighted in
having completely ignored the warning signals from the central and
south Indian states, and hastily granting approval to 6 new Bt
Cotton hybrids for north India.
By doing so they have shown themselves as being limited to an
'approval' committee, and as having no respect for the experiences
and opinions of a diverse section of voices from civil society.
This decision is in clear violation of the precautionary
principle as it fails to acknowledge the overwhelming evidence of
disaster in the fields.
This clearly vindicates the stand that a deep
corporate-government nexus exists and in fact, has made it apparent
that this has tainted even the highest levels of bureaucracy.
For further information:
Divya Raghunandan, Genetic Engineering Campaigner, Greenpeace
India Tel: +91-9845535406, E-mail: draghuna@dialb.greenpeace.org
Vivek Sharma, Media Officer, Greenpeace India Tel:
+91-9343788424, E-mail: vivek.sharma@in.greenpeace.org
Namrata Chowdhary, Media Officer, Greenpeace India Tel:
+919810850092, E-mail: namrata.chowdhary@dialb.greenpeace.org
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