Biotech Regulatory Authority bill a huge Step for Future Market Development: Environment Minister
Description : Industry
Date : Aug-19-2010
The Biotechnology Regulatory Authority bill, scheduled to be introduced in Parliament imminently, will not open the floodgates to genetically modified (GM) food.
Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said, "I believe that when the Bill will be introduced, it will address the concerns that have been expressed by the civil society groups that it will open floodgates for all GM foods. Nothing like it". He further added, "It's just exaggerated notion of non-reading of the Bill. Once it is presented in Parliament, we all will see that the integrity of environmental assessment process has been maintained"
The Bill seeks to create a new body to regulate research, manufacture, import and use of products of modern biotechnology. The need for a biotech regulator was highlighted during the recent controversy over introduction of genetically modified brinjal for commercial cultivation.
After introduction in Parliament, the bill will head to the relevant parliamentary standing committee and then be thrown open for public debate. Emphasizing the need for biotech research application especially in agriculture, Mr. Ramesh said that there was need for strong public sector involvement in the sector. Apart from an independent regulatory authority, there was also need for very strong public sector presence in research in order that the undoubtable potential in the technology could be harnessed.
He expects the regulator be a professional, independent scientific body which will decide on the safety and efficacy of a bio-tech product. This will encourage the investments in Indian biotech market. Meanwhile he also assured, that he integrity of the public consultation process has also been maintained, as it is not only a technology issue but also a social issue which very often the scientists look down upon.
Description : Industry
Date : Aug-19-2010
The Biotechnology Regulatory Authority bill, scheduled to be introduced in Parliament imminently, will not open the floodgates to genetically modified (GM) food.
Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said, "I believe that when the Bill will be introduced, it will address the concerns that have been expressed by the civil society groups that it will open floodgates for all GM foods. Nothing like it". He further added, "It's just exaggerated notion of non-reading of the Bill. Once it is presented in Parliament, we all will see that the integrity of environmental assessment process has been maintained"
The Bill seeks to create a new body to regulate research, manufacture, import and use of products of modern biotechnology. The need for a biotech regulator was highlighted during the recent controversy over introduction of genetically modified brinjal for commercial cultivation.
After introduction in Parliament, the bill will head to the relevant parliamentary standing committee and then be thrown open for public debate. Emphasizing the need for biotech research application especially in agriculture, Mr. Ramesh said that there was need for strong public sector involvement in the sector. Apart from an independent regulatory authority, there was also need for very strong public sector presence in research in order that the undoubtable potential in the technology could be harnessed.
He expects the regulator be a professional, independent scientific body which will decide on the safety and efficacy of a bio-tech product. This will encourage the investments in Indian biotech market. Meanwhile he also assured, that he integrity of the public consultation process has also been maintained, as it is not only a technology issue but also a social issue which very often the scientists look down upon.
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