The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) under ministry of environment and forests is soon to have a sitting to clear all pending applications from the pharmaceutical industry.

The committee is to consider 14 biotech cases for approval during the forthcoming session, it is learnt. This includes 12 new applications and two pending ones, the decisions on which were deferred during the last meeting of the committee. The meeting is expected in March.

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 files that reach before the committee should compulsorily go through the initial screening.

The commercial launch of several recombinant products of Indian pharmaceutical companies would depend upon the final clearance from GEAC. Though the next GEAC meeting was already overdue and planned for February 26, 2003, the ministry is known to have extended the date by a couple of weeks.

Since the last GEAC meeting couldn't take up the pharmaceutical approvals, priority would be given for the same in the forthcoming meeting, it is learnt.

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.