Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI)

A bill to set up a National Biotechnology Regulatory Authority (NBRA) in India is likely to be introduced soon in parliament. “The draft bill, prepared by the Department of Biotechnology, for setting up the NBRA is ready. I hope the bill will be introduced in the monsoon session of parliament commencing next month,” eminent agriculture scientist  MS Swaminathan said. A task force on the application of agriculture biotechnology, constituted under the chairmanship of Swaminathan in 2004, has recommended to the Science and Technology Ministry to set up NBRA to regulate the research, manufacture, import, and marketing of genetically modified organisms. “The government committed two years ago to establish an autonomous statutory body (NBRA) in conformity with the agricultural biotechnology policy for the well being of farm families, food security of the nation, health security of the consumer, and security of trade in farm commodities,” Swaminathan pointed out. Though the Ministry held widespread consultations on the draft bill with stakeholders over the months, a similar exercise with the legal fraternity on the regulatory mechanism is scheduled this month. Comments are invited from all the stakeholders and would be received up to July 30, 2008. More information is available on the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology website.