Why in News
The Supreme Court said it only wanted what was good for India even as the government argued that growing genetically modified (GM) crops such as mustard would make quality edible oil cheaper for the common man and benefit the national interest by reducing foreign dependence.
Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee
The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is a statutory body in India under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
It is responsible for the appraisal of activities involving the large scale use of hazardous microorganisms and genetically engineered organisms (GMOs) in research and industrial production from an environmental perspective.
Functions of GEAC:
Appraising proposals for the import, export, manufacture, and use of GMOs and hazardous microorganisms.
Assessing the environmental risk of GMOs and hazardous microorganisms before approving their release into the environment.
Laying down guidelines and standards for GMO and hazardous microorganism safety procedures.
Monitoring the development and use of GMOs and hazardous microorganisms in India.
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