Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India

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The Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) is a proposed regulatory body in India for uses of biotechnology products including genetically modified organisms (GMOs).[1] The institute was first suggested under the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) draft bill prepared by the Department of Biotechnology in 2008.[2] Since then, it has undergone several revisions.[3]

The bill has faced opposition from farmer groups and anti-GMO activists.[4][5]

Overview

On 23 January 2003, India ratified the

Ministry of Environment and Forests (India) is responsible for approval of genetically engineered products in India. If the bill is passed, the responsibility will be taken over by the Environment Appraisal Panel, a sub-division of the BRAI.[3]

According to the bill, BRAI will have a chairperson, two full-time members and two part-time members; all will be required to have expertise in

life sciences and biotechnology in agriculture, health care, environment and general biology. The bill also proposes setting up an inter-ministerial governing body, to oversee the performance of BRAI, and a National Biotechnology Advisory Council of stakeholders to provide feedback on the use of biotechnology products and organisms in the society.[1] The regulatory body will be an autonomous and statutory agency to regulate the research, transport, import, and manufacture biotechnology products and organisms.[1]

Criticism

Suman Sahai, founder of the Gene Campaign, has called the bill flawed. According to her, the bill is proposing new institutes without clearly defining their powers and responsibilities. She has also stated that the bill was introduced without consulting the people who will be affected by the bill.[4]

Right to Information Act. He had stated that the bill uses vague wordings which would criminalize sequencing or isolation of DNA and PCR techniques, requiring approval for each usage. Thus, hindering research and education. He pointed out the bill has no provision for mandatory labelling of GM foods. He criticized giving the body power to punish parties making false or misleading statements about GM crops, calling it unprecedented.[7]

In September 2010,

Ministry of Agriculture, or Department of Science and Technology.[3]

On the other hand, Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE) has supported the bill. J.S. Rehman, an entomologist and a former member of the Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation, has stated that most protesters associate genetic engineering with Monsanto, as a result development of Indian biotech is being hindered.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Regulatory Authority to be Set Up on Bio-Technology". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 22 May 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  2. ^ "Draft: National Biotechnology Regulatory Bill, 2008" (PDF).
  3. ^ a b c "BRAI Bill leaves biotech commercialisation in limbo". The Hindu. 9 September 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  4. ^
    DNA India
    . 9 July 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  5. ^ Shaheen Contractor (23 August 2013). "No BRAI Bill, Please". Business Line. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  6. Ministry of Environment and Forests (India). Archived from the original
    on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  7. ^ Pushpa M. Bhargava (5 January 2012). "Unconstitutional, unethical, unscientific". The Hindu. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  8. ^ Vasudevan Mukunth (2 September 2013). "Let's unMonsanto the debate". Retrieved 1 April 2014.

Further reading

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