13 August : The 88th meeting of Genetic Engineering Approval Committee met today to consider proposals regarding Pharmaceuticals, applications for MLRT/Strip trials and experimental seed production of transgenic crops expressing new gene/events during Kharif, 2008 and certain aspects of Bt cotton.
They are:Permission for import of recombinant HIV Vaccine TBC –M4 and ADVAX for conduct of phase I clinical trials of preventive AIDS vaccine from M/s Therion Biologics Corporation, Cambridge, MA, USA by National AIDS Research Institute (ICMR), Pune.
Permission for import to conduct Phase III Clinical trials with r-adenovirus p 53 (rAdp53) in the treatment for newly diagnosed unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck from China by M/s Intas Biopharmaceuticals Ltd.
Consideration of Applications for MLRT/Strip trials and experimental seed production of transgenic crops expressing new gene/events during Kharif, 2008 as recommended by the RCGM.
Permission to conduct Multi Location Research Trials (MLRT) of 2 transgenic Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var botrytis) hybrids namely SCF-1 Bt & SCF-3 Bt containing cry1Ac gene during Kharif 2008 submitted by M/s. Sungro Seeds Research Ltd., New Delhi & for extension of the permission letter for conducting Multilocation Research Trial (MLRT) on Bt. Cauliflower hybrids namely SCF-8 Bt and SCF-9 Bt containing cry 1Ac gene from Rabi 2007 to Kharif 2008 .
Permission to conduct Multi Location Research Trial (MLRT) on 4 transgenic stacked cotton hybrids namely MRC-8347 BG-II RRF Roundup, MRC-8351 BG-II RRF Roundup, MRC-8301 BG-II RRF Roundup, MRC-8326 BG-II RRF roundup containing cry1Ac, cry2Ab and CP4EPSPS genes (MON 15985 X MON 88913) at six locations in South zone during Kharif 2008 by M/s. Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Co. Ltd., Maharashtra.
Permission to conduct Multi-location Research Trial (MLRT) and limited seed production with new (HXH) transgenic cotton hybrids containing cry1Ac (Event-1) and cry1EC (Event-24) namely JKCH-1050 Bt EGII, JKCH-1947Bt EGII & JKCH-226Bt EGII at five locations in North zone, five hybrids namely JKCH-99Bt EGII, JKCH-666BT EGII, JK-Indra Bt EGII, JK-Varun Bt EGII, JK-Durga Bt EGII at five locations in Central zone and four hybrids namely JKCH-99Bt EGII, JK-Indra EGII, JK-Durga Bt EGII, JKCH-2245Bt EGII at five locations in South zone by M/s. JK Agri Genetics Ltd., Hyderabad.
Dharwad Permission to conduct Multilocation Research Trial (MLRT) on Bt. Brinjal hybrids Bt GO 112, Bt Udupi Gulla, GO 112 and Udupi Gulla containing cry 1Ac gene at ELA Farm, Department of Agriculture, Govt of Goa during Summer- monsoon 2008 instead of at KVK Goa.
Permission to conduct Multi Location Research Trials (MLRT) on three cotton hybrids namely MCE101, MCE102, MCE103 containing cry1C gene (MLS9124 event) at five locations in North zone and four cotton hybrids namely MCL351, MCM352, MCM357, MCE358 containing cry1C gene (MLS9124 Event) at eight locations in Central and six locations in South zones during Kharif 2008.
Permission to conduct Elite Event Selection Trials on 28 Bt rice lines for research and Development purpose at their own R & D farm during Kharif 2008.
Permission to conduct Strip Trial on eight BGII Bt cotton during Kharif 2008, to change the location of strip trial from their R&D Center located at Guntur in A.P. to their R&D Center in Salem district of Tamil Nadu in South zone and the permission to conduct SAUtrials of Bt. cotton hybrids 5174 Bt and 5125 Bt in the central zone and South zones Kharif 2008. were also considered. The applications were submitted by by M/s. Metahelix Life Sciences, Bangalore, M/s. Ganga kaveri Seeds Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad and M/s. Ajeet Seeds Ltd., Maharashtra respectively.