GEAC Full Form

What is the full form of GEAC?

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is known by the initials GEAC. Under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), a statutory body, was established by the "Rules for the Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Engineering Organisms or Cells, 1989." The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee was established, and in 2010 it was given its present name. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change oversees its operations. The organisation controls the use, production, storage, import, and export of dangerous microorganisms or cells and organisms created through genetic engineering in India.

Function of GEAC

In India, the GEAC is the top regulatory body for biotechnology. It is a governmental entity. Below are given the functions of GEAC:

• It is in charge of evaluating from environmental standpoint practices involving the extensive use of potentially harmful microbes and recombinants in research and industrial production.

• The GEAC also evaluates requests for the release of genetically modified foods and organisms into the environment, including requests for experimental field tests.

• The body also considers proposals for the import or manufacture of recombinant pharmaceutical products that use living modified organisms that fall under risk categories III and up, or for recombinant pharmaceutical products where the end product is a modified living organism.

• The Environment (Protection) Act gives the Committee the authority to penalise individuals or entities.

• Genetically modified organisms and the products made from them must first receive the GEAC's approval before being used commercially.

Composition of GEAC

• The Ministry of Environment's Special Secretary/Additional Secretary serves as the Committee's chair.

• Co-chairing the meeting is a representative of the Department of Biotechnology.

• Other experts from other ministries and organisations like the ICAR, ICMR, CCMB, etc. are among the many additional members.