Invitation - Public discussion on the Proposed Biotech Regulator Bill in India
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Kabir Arora
Mar 5, 2010, 5:39:00 AM3/5/10
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Alliance for GM Free & Safe Food
Invitation
Public discussion on the proposed Biotech Regulator Bill in India
Sunday, March 7th 2010 at Seminar Hall,
Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Sector 26, Chandigarh
2.30 pm onwards
Dear friends,
Invitation - Public discussion on the proposed Biotech Regulator Bill in India
Greetings! India has been witness to a big debate that unfolded in recent months about the need for and wisdom behind the introduction of GM (Genetically Modified) crops like Bt Brinjal. The technical facets to the debate as well as the socio-political, ethical, legal and economic facets came to the fore as the Union Minister for Environment & Forests, Mr Jairam Ramesh, took up public consultations on the subject before announcing his decision of an indefinite moratorium on the release of Bt Brinjal in the country. Citizens engaged with this issue pertaining to the safety of their food and choices being allowed. This process also witnessed a certain democratisation around Science & Technology policy/decision-making in this country.
As this process unfolded, the need for a credible regulatory regime in the country was articulated from all sides. It was hoped that the moratorium period would be used to address the glaring problems in design and implementation of a regulatory regime around GM issues in India and this is what the Environment Minister said in his decision-note too.
Meanwhile, the Department of Biotechnology moved in with great alacrity with its new version of the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority Bill (earlier called as National Biotechnology Regulatory Authority in the 2008 version of the Bill, now being called as the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India Bill or BRAI Bill) and is slated to table the same in the Parliament in the ongoing Session. The very approach to and design of the proposed biotechnology regulator in India in this draft Bill is highly questionable and there are many concerns with regard to various proposed clauses in the Bill too. Many perceive this to be the Government's latest move to bring in GMOs through the backdoor by hook or crook.
It is in this context that we would like to invite you to a one day discussion on the BRAI Bill and what the response of citizens, civil society groups and elected representatives should be. This is to extend a warm invitation to you to join us on Sunday, March 7th 2010 at Seminar Hall, Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Sector 26, Chandigarh from 2.30 pm onwards.
Invitation - Public discussion on the proposed Biotech Regulator Bill in India
Greetings! India has been witness to a big debate that unfolded in recent months about the need for and wisdom behind the introduction of GM (Genetically Modified) crops like Bt Brinjal. The technical facets to the debate as well as the socio-political, ethical, legal and economic facets came to the fore as the Union Minister for Environment & Forests, Mr Jairam Ramesh, took up public consultations on the subject before announcing his decision of an indefinite moratorium on the release of Bt Brinjal in the country. Citizens engaged with this issue pertaining to the safety of their food and choices being allowed. This process also witnessed a certain democratisation around Science & Technology policy/decision-making in this country.
As this process unfolded, the need for a credible regulatory regime in the country was articulated from all sides. It was hoped that the moratorium period would be used to address the glaring problems in design and implementation of a regulatory regime around GM issues in India and this is what the Environment Minister said in his decision-note too.
Meanwhile, the Department of Biotechnology moved in with great alacrity with its new version of the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority Bill (earlier called as National Biotechnology Regulatory Authority in the 2008 version of the Bill, now being called as the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India Bill or BRAI Bill) and is slated to table the same in the Parliament in the ongoing Session. The very approach to and design of the proposed biotechnology regulator in India in this draft Bill is highly questionable and there are many concerns with regard to various proposed clauses in the Bill too. Many perceive this to be the Government's latest move to bring in GMOs through the backdoor by hook or crook.
It is in this context that we would like to invite you to a one day discussion on the BRAI Bill and what the response of citizens, civil society groups and elected representatives should be. This is to extend a warm invitation to you to join us on Sunday, March 7th 2010 at Seminar Hall, Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Sector 26, Chandigarh from 2.30 pm onwards.
Justice (Retd)J C Verma shall grace the occasion as Chief Guest and Eminent Ecological activist Kavitha Kuruganti shall deliver keynote address.
For more information, contact:
- Neeraj Atri: 94-171-11427
- Hemant Goswami: 97-792-61733
- R K Kaplash: 98-141-73342
- Reeta Kohli: 98-140-53002
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