NEW DELHI (Reuters) – The Supreme Court on Tuesday lifted curbs on field trials of genetically modified (GMO) crops, provided tests are conducted under stringent conditions to prevent contamination. The court allowed field trials of cotton, rice, mustard, tomatoes, potatoes, cauliflower and groundnuts.

“These trials will be conducted under stringent conditions to prevent any contamination,” a court bench said. The court asked the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee in September last year not to allow such tests until concerns about the impact of GMOs on the environment and human health had been addressed. India has so far not allowed commercial planting of any gene-modified crops for human consumption. Cotton is the only GMO crop grown on a commercial scale.

Environment groups say India’s existing bio-safety system is flawed as the government has not undertaken any independent field trials of its own and instead accepted the results of industry-driven tests. They have demanded a strict protocol to evaluate all aspects of bio-safety before any gene-modified crop is released into the environment. The government says the use of such crops would improve yields and check use of insecticides.

It said over 300 proposals for use of GMOs had piled up before the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee since the court placed curbs on field trials last year. “Scientific assessment and not moratorium is the answer to bio-safety concerns,” the government said in court, adding that the order had stopped research work on the use of GMOs. The court on Tuesday also allowed cotton producers to commercially use four new BT cotton varieties.