The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) under ministry of environment and forests is to meet on March 6, 2003. The committee is expected to consider 14 biotech applications from various pharmaceutical companies for approval during the forthcoming session. This includes 12 new applications and two pending ones, the decisions on which were deferred during the last meeting of the committee. The companies whose applications are to be considered include Shreya Life Sciences and Cipla Ltd.

As on date, there are 27 pending applications from the pharmaceutical industry before the GEAC. While 14 of them are to be taken up during the meeting, the rest would be forwarded for the initial expert screening, it is learnt. The commercial launch of several recombinant products of Indian pharmaceutical companies would depend upon the final clearance from GEAC. The GEAC was earlier planned on February 26, 2003.

The applications from the pharmaceutical industry had to be kept pending last time as the committee had to consider the applications related with the approval of genetically modified cotton in the country.

The current meeting is also attracting attention with the committee expected to consider the plea of CARE and Catholic Relief Society (CRS) for permission to import corn-soya blend from the United States. India had recently rejected the proposals for the import of 23,000 tonnes corn-soya blend, which came from the U.S.

GEAC is the highest authority when it comes to the sanctions for the testing of genetically altered organisms, transgenic animals, plant material tested against pathogens etc. Import for large scale use, export, manufacture, process, sell, use of any genetically engineered substances or cells including food stuffs and additives that contains rDNA products are also subject to regulatory control by GEAC.

The GEAC consists of officials and experts from the ministry of environment and forests, ministry of health, industrial development, departments of biotechnology and atomic energy; Indian Council of Agricultural Research; Indian Council of Medical Research; Council of Scientific and Industrial Research; Directorate of Plant Protection; Central Pollution Control Board and others in individual capacity.