Chennai, February 17: Union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh today said public confidence has to be created and state governments taken on board on the issue of genetically modified food crops.
“I think we need to create public confidence. There is no great harm in being a little cautious, in taking little more care in what we are doing,” Ramesh told reporters here.
“We got to have credible regulatory institution. We have been discussing it for the last five years…Secondly, you need to get state governments on board…today you don’t have any state governments supporting this,” he said.
Noting that distinguished Indian scientists had raised questions about GM crops, he said they were not for a ban on GM foods but were saying “be cautious and make sure that everything is right.
“I have not announced a ban. Let us be clear about this. We are in a moratorium phase.
–Agencies