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| India suspends first GM food crop | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| India has halted the cultivation of what would have been its first genetically modified (GM) vegetable crop because of safety concerns. | |
| Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said more studies were needed to ensure genetically modified aubergines were safe for consumption. | Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said more studies were needed to ensure genetically modified aubergines were safe for consumption. |
| The GM vegetable has undergone field trials since 2008 and received approval from government scientists in 2009. | The GM vegetable has undergone field trials since 2008 and received approval from government scientists in 2009. |
| But there has been a heated public row over the cultivation of the GM crop. | |
| "Public sentiment is negative. It is my duty to adopt a cautious approach," Mr Ramesh said. | |
| He said the moratorium on growing BT brinjal - as the variety of aubergine is known in India - would remain in place until tests were carried out "to the satisfaction of everyone". | |
| The BBC's Geeta Pandey who was at the news conference in Delhi says it appears Mr Ramesh has put any cultivation of GM vegetables in India on hold indefinitely. | |
| India allowed the use of genetically modified seeds for cotton in 2002. | India allowed the use of genetically modified seeds for cotton in 2002. |