India toughens stance on GM discourse

The Indian government is planning a new law that will illegalise the opposition of GM food and products.

The Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill is under preparation, but will lead to absolute silence of GM foods criticisms once in force. The bill allows the authorities to prosecute anyone, including journalists, for opposing GM food. Questioning GM food will lead to a jail time of at least six months.

The bill states, ''Whoever, without any evidence or scientific record misleads the public about the safety of the organisms and products specified in Part I or Part II or Part III of the Schedule I, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to one year and with fine which may extend to Rs200,000 (US$4,329.4) or with both.''

Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan said the proposed bill violates freedom of speech and expression. The Alliance for GM Free and Safe Food, a conglomerate of 120 organisations, also opposed the bill.

Alliance members said if the bill is passed, it would become difficult to obtain information on GM crops under the RTI Act. The bill will take away the right to protest and speak against activities of corporates and government on GM food, said the members on Thursday (Feb 25).