Experts on GM crop panels to declare conflict of interest
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 6)
| Topic: GS2 – Governance, GS3 – Agriculture |
| Context |
| ● The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has amended rules governing the selection of experts for the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), which regulates genetically modified (GM) seeds in India. |
Amendment to GEAC Rules
- Under the new rules, expert members are required to disclose any interests that might conflict with their duties.
- Experts must take measures to ensure that conflicts of interest do not influence the committee’s decisions.
| Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) |
| ● GEAC (Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee) is a statutory body under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
● It appraises activities involving hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production. ● The committee assesses proposals for the release of genetically engineered organisms and products, including experimental field trials. ● Functions include approving or rejecting proposals, conducting risk and environmental impact assessments, and monitoring biotechnology applications. ● Composition: GEAC is chaired by a senior official from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and co-chaired by a Department of Biotechnology (DBT) representative. ● It includes scientists, environmentalists, and policymakers to ensure diverse expertise in decision-making regarding GMOs and related technologies. |
Conflict of Interest Provisions
- Expert members with direct or indirect associations with matters being discussed in committee meetings must disclose these associations prior to the meetings.
- Unless specifically requested by the committee, such members are expected to recuse themselves from the discussion.
- Selected members must submit a form detailing their professional affiliations over the past decade before joining the committee.
Supreme Court’s Order on GM Crops
- In July 2023, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to form a national policy on GM crops.
- The court delivered a split verdict on the Centre’s 2022 conditional approval for the environmental release of GM mustard.
- The court concurred on the need for a process to address conflict of interest issues.
Allegations of Conflict of Interest
- Allegations of conflict of interest in GM crop regulation arose in 2013.
- Activist group Coalition for GM-Free India alleged that a member of the Technical Expert Committee, appointed by the court, was associated with an organization funded by Monsanto, a major multinational biotech company.
| Conflict of interest and its potential implications: |
| ● Bias in Decision-Making: Experts with conflicts of interest may make biased recommendations that favor certain companies or technologies, undermining the fairness of decisions.
● Compromised Public Trust: If conflicts of interest are not disclosed, it can erode public trust in regulatory bodies and their decisions, especially in sensitive areas like genetically modified organisms (GMOs). ● Regulatory Weakness: Undisclosed conflicts can lead to ineffective regulations, as decisions may prioritize private interests over public health or environmental safety. ● Legal and Ethical Concerns: Conflict of interest issues can result in legal challenges or ethical violations, affecting the credibility of the regulatory framework. ● Economic Impacts: Biased decisions could result in the promotion of products that benefit certain stakeholders but pose risks to public welfare or the environment. |
| Practice Question: Examine the potential implications of conflicts of interest in the decision-making process of regulatory bodies like the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), with specific reference to the regulation of genetically modified organisms in India. (250 Words /15 marks) |
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