India’s environment minister, M. Veerappa Moily, on Thursday said that the ministry has approved confined field trials of genetically modified (GM) crops.
Moily said that the clearance was given because there was no embargo from the Supreme Court, which is hearing a case in the matter. The decision will allow gene modification trials of more than 200 varieties of rice, wheat, maize, castor and cotton, among other crops.
Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar had said on Wednesday that the government will file an affidavit in the Supreme Court pleading that field trials of GM crops be allowed.
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