Top science panel pitches reform of biotech regulator

"The current regulatory system for recombinant products administered under Rules (1989) of Environment Protection Act, 1986, should be reformed till Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) is in place," the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister (SAC-PM), chaired by eminent scientist C N R Rao, said in a statement.

The statement, issued after series of meetings of experts over past few months, also calls for examination of the BRAI Bill by Parliament "on a priority basis".

The five recommendations made by the panel also include keeping out experts of the Department of Biotechnology from the posts of Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) and the Regulatory Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM).

The recommendations come in the backdrop of the moratorium on commercialisation of the Bt brinjal in 2010 announced by the then Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.

The panel called for a "judicious blend" of traditional breeding and new technologies - both non-transgenic and transgenic - to meet the foodgrain requirement of the country.

It said the current mechanism of GEAC and RCGM should be the sole authority for bio-safety and bio-efficacy assessment of all recombinant products.

The panel, however, sought upgradation of the post of the chairpersons of the two regulatory bodies. The panel said the GEAC and the RCGM should have full time chairpersons. The Chairman of GEAC, may be of Special Secretary status for a three-year period and of RCGM a level lower, it said.