Petition
to National Biodiversity Authority to take action on Environment Support Group's complaint of biopiracy against M/s Mahyco/Monsanto and their collaborators promoting Bt Brinjal
Shri M. F. Farooqui, IAS.,
Chairman,
National Biodiversity Authority,
(Full Addl. Charge)
&
Additional Secretary,
Ministry of Environment and Forests,
Government of India,
5th Floor, TICEL Bio Park,
Taramani, Chennai - 600 113.
Tel: 91-044-2254 1805
Fax: 91-044-2254 1073
E-mail: chairman@nbaindia.in
8th
August 2011
Dear
Shri. Farooqui,
As
you are aware, Environment Support Group has filed a complaint
against M/s Mahyco/Monsanto and their collaborators in promoting Bt
Brinjal in violation of India's Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and
Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992. This complaint has been
pending adjudication by the National Biodiversity Authority for over
a year now, notwithstanding comprehensive investigations that have
been undertaken by Karnataka State Biodiversity Board.
The
Authority which has not found the necessary time and resource to
adjudicate the matter with due dispatch, has now proceeded to process
an application from Monsanto Holdings to access onions in India for
hybridisation and possible commercial release. Such double standards
is not an healthy indicator that the Authority is independently and
rigorously implementing Biological Diversity Act in order to protect
our biological resources for the benefit of present and future
generations.
When
the Authority meets on 9th August 2011, it is imperative
that it takes a decision on the pending complaint of biopiracy
against M/s Mahyco/Monsanto and its collaborators. Such action is
imperative on the part of the regulatory Authority and will build
public confidence that it is not dithering in taking a correct
decision due to extraneous pressures.
We
also demand that pending adjudication of this matter, no application
must be processed for accessing biological resources of India from
any of the agencies being investigated on grounds of biopiracy. Such
a policy is consistent with best practices employed by the Government
of India and also with various Supreme Court decisions – most
recently in banning mining by all as a measure of taking action
against widespread illegal mining in Bellary district of Karnataka.
We
hope that the Authority will take appropriate decisions with due
dispatch to safeguard India's biodiversity and the wider public
interest.