Tough resistance by Drug
Controller of India to genetically-engineered bovine growth
hormone (BGH)
NEW DELHI: The market entry of a genetically-engineered bovine growth
hormone (BGH), originally used to boost milk yield among cows, is facing
tough resistance here even as it awaits final clearance from the Drug
Controller of India.
The Union environment ministry has come under sharp criticism from various quarters for approving a multinational company's proposal to sell the hormone here, reportedly without giving a thought to the ecological consequences.
This hormone is used in the US to boost milk yield in cows - despite public resistance. The European Council had banned its commercial sale in March 1995.
Sceptics here say the government has overlooked the fact that constant use of BGH leads to:
The US-based manufacturing company, Monasanto, also warns of these risk factors in its product literature. The hormone is sold under brandname Polisac.
``This shows how lightly the government takes food safety aspects,'' says R P Parasher, the president of the DAV Society for Health, painting an unhealthy picture of biotech foods in times to come.
A T Dudani, a former scientist of the Indian Council of Medical Research who is campaigning against BGH's entry into Indian dairies, says rotational grazing is a better ecological alternative.
Citing studies, Mr Dudani says hormone-engineered milk shows a significant increase in the presence of Insulin-like Growth Factor One (IGF-1), which has been linked to the growth of tumours - for instance, in the breasts, uterus and colon - when consum by human beings.
Not all agree. ``All these are vague, have no solid scientific footing and the campaign is misplaced,'' says R R Khan, the member-secretary of the genetic engineering approval committee and a toxicologist himself.
He says in the first place, the hormone will be allowed to be used on buffaloes, not cows, as reported in a section of the media.
And, extensive experiments on 800 buffaloes and 200 cows showed while cows did show the risk symptoms, there was no noticeable effect on the buffalo because it is a sturdier animal, Mr Khan says.
Secondly, he says, Oxytocin and BGH (both used to boost milk yield) are not the same hormones. The former is a sex hormone and squeezes the animal to wring the milk from its system. It has been banned.
On the other hand, BGH enables the animal to produce more milk - say, by increasing its fodder intake.
``There is a phobia that whatsoever is not natural, is not good. It's not always true,'' says Mr Khan, adding the product is subject to withdrawal, if an adverse reaction is reported.
The Drug Controller of India, P Dasgupta, says: ``We are generating more expert opinion on the issue so as to arrive at a wiser decision whether to approve it or not. We will be getting feedback from veterinary experts, doctors and scientists to see its implication on animals and human beings.
Prof. Desh Pal S. Verma Ph.D, FRSC Biotechnology Center Ohio State University 1060 Carmack Road Columbus OH 43210 Fax: 614-292-7293 Phone: 614-292-3625
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