Cabinet likely to take up biotech authority Bill today

The draft Bill setting up the authority the adjudicating agency on safety and efficacy of genetically modified products such as food,plants,seed and organisms is to come up for approval before the Union Cabinet on Thursday.

So far,in the absence of a comprehensive framework,multiple agencies under various ministries give clearances to genetically modified products in the country.

Last year,differences between various ministries had forced the introduction of BT Brinjal to be put on indefinite hold.

The environment ministry,which had initially opposed the setting up of the BRAI under the Department of Biotechnology,has now relented. The nod came after it was agreed that the authority will have an environmental appraisal panel (EAP) under it as a permanent body,with representatives from the Environment Ministry as well as the Health Ministry.

The Health Ministry had raised objections on the grounds that its functions overlapped with that of the Central Drug Regulatory Authority under it.

Once it is approved by the Union Cabinet,the Bill is likely to be sent to the standing committee and introduced in Parliament.