Biosafety panel defers GM corn, cotton cases

The National Biosafety Committee postponed decisions on soybean meal import applications, GM corn licence renewals and several cotton-related cases at its 38th meeting, The Express Tribune reported. It said the technical panel's recommendations lacked clear conclusions, so the committee sent the matters back for review by the Technical Advisory Committee.

Members also asked why commercialisation of GM corn had been suspended. A ministry representative said a 2019 pause on biotech food crops was intended to last until a policy framework was in place, and that the National Agricultural Biotechnology Policy 2025 has since been approved and notified. The cases will return to the committee with clearer recommendations for final consideration.