The proposed BRAI bill is all set to roll out red-carpet to GMOs
India will take another two years, as it contemplates to setup her own independent regulatory body, to monitor viability and safety of genetically engineered crops. Jairam Ramesh implemented indefinite moratorium on Bt Brinjal because our country lacks credible regulatory authority to monitor genetically modified (GM) products. Even if the ‘Biotech Regulatory Authority of India’ bill (BRAI bill) is cleared, it will take a year for it to start functioning. Presently, an arm of environment ministry called Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) has the final say on production and commercial distribution of GM organisms. The intended regulatory body will have three important scientific divisions: Human & Animal Health; Agriculture, Forest & Fisheries; and Environmental & Industrial Application.
However, in spite of such noble intention, there is public outcry against certain clauses of the bill. So much so that the concerned groups are in favour of setting up National Biosafety Protection Authority; as a buffer against BRAI! It is argued that there are draconian clauses in the bill, which are meant to allow MNCs producing and marketing GMOs rather than protecting health and environment; apart from throttling voices raised against such malpractices. Further, the bill has ignored the immense sphere of biotechnology, and got itself confined only with genetic engineering, thereby exposing the ignorance of the people who crafted it.
The seriousness with which the objection is raised on a section of that bill is alarming. As it states "Whoever, without any evidence or scientific record misleads the public about safety of GMOs and products thereof shall be punished”, not only with fine but imprisonment as well. It sounded more like a promotional mouthpiece of the corporations releasing GMOs without regulatory tests, rather than an agency trying to shield the masses from their selfish blight.
India will take another two years, as it contemplates to setup her own independent regulatory body, to monitor viability and safety of genetically engineered crops. Jairam Ramesh implemented indefinite moratorium on Bt Brinjal because our country lacks credible regulatory authority to monitor genetically modified (GM) products. Even if the ‘Biotech Regulatory Authority of India’ bill (BRAI bill) is cleared, it will take a year for it to start functioning. Presently, an arm of environment ministry called Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) has the final say on production and commercial distribution of GM organisms. The intended regulatory body will have three important scientific divisions: Human & Animal Health; Agriculture, Forest & Fisheries; and Environmental & Industrial Application.
However, in spite of such noble intention, there is public outcry against certain clauses of the bill. So much so that the concerned groups are in favour of setting up National Biosafety Protection Authority; as a buffer against BRAI! It is argued that there are draconian clauses in the bill, which are meant to allow MNCs producing and marketing GMOs rather than protecting health and environment; apart from throttling voices raised against such malpractices. Further, the bill has ignored the immense sphere of biotechnology, and got itself confined only with genetic engineering, thereby exposing the ignorance of the people who crafted it.
The seriousness with which the objection is raised on a section of that bill is alarming. As it states "Whoever, without any evidence or scientific record misleads the public about safety of GMOs and products thereof shall be punished”, not only with fine but imprisonment as well. It sounded more like a promotional mouthpiece of the corporations releasing GMOs without regulatory tests, rather than an agency trying to shield the masses from their selfish blight.
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