There will be no approval for the commercial release of Bt Brinjal in India till independent tests are carried out, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh declared here Tuesday.
"Impose a moratorium on the release of Bt Brinjal till such time that independent scientific studies establish satisfaction of both public and professionals, the safety of the product from the point of view of long-term impact on human health and environment," Ramesh said at a press conference.
He pointed to the opposition to the genetically modified vegetable from 11 state governments, green activists and farmers during his public hearings over the issue at a number of cities around the country.
Ramesh clarified that the moratorium in no way implied a "conditional acceptance" of Bt Brinjal.