A Gujerati farmer at work. India welcomes GM advances, but it also has concerns over the potential risks Photo: Vasant Dave

The Government of India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests has addressed safety concerns regarding GM crops. The Ministry outlines a number of potential strengths and weaknesses of transgenic plants, although no evidence of genetically modified crops posing direct risks have been cited.

The Ministry notes that genetic modification has advantages over conventional crops, but also outlines concerns over potential risks, labelling them broadly under two categories: risks to human and animal health; and risks to the environment.

The main concerns regarding human health include potential toxicity, allergenicity and antibiotic resistance. The Ministry highlights that GM crops may hold the danger of newly introduced proteins becoming allergens, although also make clear there is “no evidence that GM crops pose more risks than conventional products.” Additionally, it also notes that new GM crops can be tested for allergens prior to commercial release.

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Another area of concern, toxicity, lies with the modified nature of the product, whose synthesis is controlled by the transgene or the changes in the metabolism and the composition of organisms resulting from gene transfer. The Ministry once again notes that most risks relating to toxicity can be assessed using scientific methods, both quantitatively and qualitatively.

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