Par panel suggests wider consultation on agri-biosecurity bill

A Parliamentary panel today pulled up the Centre for not consulting state governments, experts and stakeholders before introducing a Bill that aims to set up an authority to ensure biosecure global trade in farm items.
The Agricultural Biosecurity Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 11, 2013. The Bill aims to set up an national biosecurity system covering plant, animal and marine issues to combat threats of bio-terrorism from pests/weeds.
The Parliamentary panel on Agriculture that examined the bill, recommended that "the committee has felt that there should be wider consultation with all relevant stakeholders by the government before introduction of bills in Parliament, particularly, when the subject-matter of the bill falls under the jurisdiction of states."

There was no prior consultation with state governments before introduction of the Bill in Parliament, inspite of the fact that agriculture is a state subject and states are the implementing agencies, the panel said in its 56th report placed in the Lok Sabha today.
That apart, the panel-headed by Basudeb Acharia, has recommended that the government amend the Clause 75 of the Bill to ensure jurisdiction of High Court and Supreme court is not debarred in any respect.
The committee has suggested balanced representation of states in the Agri Biosecurity Regulatory Authority.

"There should be at-least one representative from each group of states from different regions of the country and clause 8 accordingly be amended," the panel said and added that there should be an enabling provision in the sub-clause to co-opt a member from the concerned states.

The panel also suggested that the Centre address lacuna in clause 6 that puts the onus on individuals to inform immediately on being aware of the existence of pest or disease of plant or animal but does not indicate to whom the information should be given.
It also felt that "a very stringent provision has been made in clause 29 of the bill for recovery of cost from state governments concerned," and suggested the government omit the words in the manner provided by the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973.
The Agricultural Biosecurity Bill assumes importance as it intends to put in place a better regime of quarantining and controlling pests and even "exotic species" that are finding their way into India.