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Illegal Bt cotton in India haunts regulators

Nature Biotechnology volume 19, page 1090 (2001)Cite this article

Suspicions were aroused when 30% of cotton crops in Gujarat were unaffected by the bollworm infestation that was sweeping the state between June and October this year. According to the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), the environment ministry's apex body that regulates large-scale introduction of GMOs, tests revealed that the cotton in question, variety NB-151, contained the gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that codes for insecticidal proteins, testing positive for Cry 1A(c) gene—indicating that it was transgenic.

However, there are currently no transgenic crops approved in India and the only Bt cotton under consideration for approval by the GEAC is that developed by Monsanto's Indian partner, Maharashtra Hybrid Company (Mahyco). Therefore, citing environmental concerns, the GEAC ordered the “destruction by burning” of the entire illegal cotton crop that was still standing on the field (and compensation of farmers for their loss). GEAC also asked the Gujarat government to collect the cotton lint already harvested from the fields and keep it “under safe custody until further orders.” GEAC member Prasantha Kumar Ghosh says the lint will have to undergo animal feeding trials and allergenicity tests before being released into the market.

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  1. New Delhi, India

    K.S. Jayaraman

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  1. K.S. Jayaraman
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Jayaraman, K. Illegal Bt cotton in India haunts regulators. Nat Biotechnol 19, 1090 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1201-1090

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